Most of these comments are not concerning the primitive church (1st century
/ early 2nd century), and they tend to focus upon the symbol rather than the
cross itself. I can post lots of quotes from the early church fathers if
you like, those from the first and second century. There is
absolutely no doubt that the cross was central in their theology and
faith. These comments you share below are what I call spin. They
prey upon the ignorance of those who have not read the early church
fathers.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 1:38
AM
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] The cross of
Christ
There is no doubt that the cross was extremely important and
emphasized by the primitive Christians, much more so than by most Christians
today.
DAVEH: I've found a few comments that suggest some early
Christians were less than enamored by the cross........
The use of
the cross as a symbol was condemned by at least one church father of the 3rd
century CE because of its Pagan origins. The first appearance of a cross in
Christian art is on a Vatican sarcophagus from the mid-5th Century. 11 It was
a Greek cross with equal-length arms. Jesus' body was not shown. The first
crucifixion scenes didn't appear in Christian art until the 7th century CE.
The original cross symbol was in the form of a Tau Cross. It was so named
because it looked like the letter "tau", or our letter "T". One author
speculates that the Church may have copied the symbol from the Pagan Druids
who made crosses in this form to represent the Thau (god). 7 They joined two
limbs from oak trees. The Tau cross became associated with St. Philip who was
allegedly crucified on such a cross in Phrygia. May Day, a major Druidic
seasonal day of celebration, became St. Philip's Day. Later in Christian
history, the Tau Cross became the Roman Cross that we are familiar with
today.
******
According to author Graydon F.
Snyder:
"[Today's]....universal use of the sign of the cross makes more
poignant the striking lack of crosses in early Christian remains, especially
any specific reference to the event on Golgotha. Most scholars now agree that
the cross as an artistic reference to the passion event cannot be found prior
to the time of Constantine."
......The previous two comments are
found at <http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_symb.htm>
And Christian Symbols: Ancient and Modern by Child & Colles
claims......
In the first three centuries A.D. the cross was not
openly used as a Christian symbol, for the early believers looked beyond the
Crucifixion to the Resurrection, and the emphasis was not on the cross of
suffering and humiliation but on the Promise of Life with Christ here in the
world and hereafter in the life beyond the grave.
.......which
seems to contrast what you are claiming.
David Miller wrote:
DAVEH:
Do you believe the Primitive Christians had
that apprehension?
Yes, absolutely. Just look at how much the New Testament writes about the
cross. The earliest of the church fathers also wrote about the cross.
Ignatius of the first century magnified the cross even more than Paul did.
Polycarp, born in the first century and martyred in the middle of the second
century, was a disciple of John. He said in one of his epistles that
whosoever does not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil.
Justin Martyr of the early second century also wrote extensively on the
cross. There is no doubt that the cross was extremely important and
emphasized by the primitive Christians, much more so than by most Christians
today.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dave Hansen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.langlitz.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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