Re: [TruthTalk] The cross of Christ

[Dave]

DAVEH:   If you don't mind speculating, DavidM.......Do you feel that Mary would have felt comfortable wearing the cross as jewelery?   David Miller wrote: 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 ----- From: Dave To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you wish to receive things I find interesting, I maintain six email lists... JOKESTER, OPINIONS, LDS, STUFF, MOTORCYCLE and CLIPS. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave Hansen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.langlitz.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you wish to receive things I find interesting, I maintain six email lists... JOKESTER, OPINIONS, LDS, STUFF, MOTORCYCLE and CLIPS.