The CROSS: Jewish or Pagan?

[ChristianTalk]

Originally Posted by FSUBoy966

Well obviously it is a Christian symbol, but back in the day, Romans used it as a punishment, a form of the death penalty much like our lethal injection or electric chair. Except it didn't look like what we think it is today. It would've been more like a capital T than a lowercase t.

No, the picto graph Hebrew script shows that the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet was exactly as we have the cross today. Not the Greet letter form.

[Scotth1960]

Originally Posted by ChristianTalk

Is the cross a Jewish symbol or a pagan image? If anybody has read this book "The Ancient Jewish Cross" let me know. Here is the link for the book.

ConfessBelieveandLive.com

Originally Posted by ChristianTalk

Thanks.

Dear ChristianTalk,
The Cross of Christ is neither a Jewish symbol, nor a pagan image; it is a Christian symbol, the most important Christian Symbol, along with the reality of the empty tomb, the Resurrected Christ. God bless us everyone. Amen. In Erie PA USA Scott R. Harrington, Wed., August 31, 2011 AD PS In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, so the Cross is neither a Jewish nor a Greek symbol. It is the Universal Christian Symbol for all human beings.
Especially for those who believe in Christ.

[Grandpa]

If you read Numbers 2 and write down on a piece of paper what you read you will see the cross in the way the Jews set up their camp.

On the east was the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon - for a total of 186,400. On the south was the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad - for a total of 151,450. On the west was the tribes of Ephraim, Manassah and Benjamin - for a total of 108,100. On the north was the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali - for a total of 157,600. The Levites were in the very center, separating all the tribes with the tabernacle.

Now if you read Numbers 23:27-30 and Numbers 24 you can tell why Balaam had the view of Israel that he had.

I thought this was really awesome. By the language used I think Balaam prophesied Jesus coming from Israel.

I didn't figure this all out on my own. I got this from Joseph Prince on his TV show - Destined to Reign.

God Bless You

[NitzWalsh]

Originally Posted by ChristianTalk

Oh my apologies. I believe it matters because God made it a point to use the cross as part of the ancient Hebrew alphabet and have Jesus put to death on one. The JW's and LDS church reject the cross even though its part of the message.

I have to comment on this because you've said it 2 times in this thread and then tell other people to do research before commenting.

JW's do reject the cross, they believe Jesus was crucified on a simple stake, no cross... They do however believe that he died for our sins when he was crucified, so the message in that regard is the same, but the symbols involved are not.

However LDS people do not really reject the cross, they don't use it as a symbol in their churches, but they do believe Jesus was crucified on a cross, but what they do believe is that Jesus took our sins upon him in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion, and their focus is on that and the resurrection and believe the cross to be a symbol of his death, they don't reject it as a part of the message, they just put their emphasis elsewhere.

I'm not saying either one of them is right, I'm just saying you're presentation of them in that matter is a little off. It would be better to say something like the JW's reject the cross as a symbol, and the LDS put their emphasis on the taking on of mans sin and the resurrection over the cross.



About the Tav letter looking like a T though, the Phoenician and paleo-Hebrew alphabets that I've found images of seem to resemble an X with one short beam, as opposed to a T. But I don't think it really matters who used it for what purposes before Christ was crucified. The cross is a symbol of the atoning sacrifice of Christ that was made for us all.

[ChristianTalk]

Originally Posted by NitzWalsh

I have to comment on this because you've said it 2 times in this thread and then tell other people to do research before commenting.

JW's do reject the cross, they believe Jesus was crucified on a simple stake, no cross... They do however believe that he died for our sins when he was crucified, so the message in that regard is the same, but the symbols involved are not.

However LDS people do not really reject the cross, they don't use it as a symbol in their churches, but they do believe Jesus was crucified on a cross, but what they do believe is that Jesus took our sins upon him in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion, and their focus is on that and the resurrection and believe the cross to be a symbol of his death, they don't reject it as a part of the message, they just put their emphasis elsewhere.

I'm not saying either one of them is right, I'm just saying you're presentation of them in that matter is a little off. It would be better to say something like the JW's reject the cross as a symbol, and the LDS put their emphasis on the taking on of mans sin and the resurrection over the cross.



About the Tav letter looking like a T though, the Phoenician and paleo-Hebrew alphabets that I've found images of seem to resemble an X with one short beam, as opposed to a T. But I don't think it really matters who used it for what purposes before Christ was crucified. The cross is a symbol of the atoning sacrifice of Christ that was made for us all.

let me help you understand since you think I'm off.

First, the Watchtower rejects the notion that Jesus died on a cross, correct. But they do not believe it was for our sins without goodworks, the message is not the same. They also believe that it was Michael the Arch Angel who became Jesus and died on a stake. Again, not the same message. You really need to get it right before responding.

Next, the LDS do not except the image of the cross because they believe it is a symbol of death and could lead to the worship of it. They also believe Jesus died for our sins but we still need goodworks in order to obtain godhood. They believe we can become gods like Jesus. Not the same message. They believe in a pantheon of gods and by goodworks with Jesus' death we to can become gods. NOT THE SAME MESSAGE.

Next is the image of the Taw. You really need to look at the ancient Hebrew pictograph script which you are not. It is the image of a cross. The Greek alphabet is the T shape image. The phoenician alphabet is also the cross shape image. I have the resources from Hebrew scholars both Jewish and non-Jewish. Again I don't believe you understand my argument.

[ChristianTalk]

Originally Posted by Scotth1960

Dear ChristianTalk,
The Cross of Christ is neither a Jewish symbol, nor a pagan image; it is a Christian symbol, the most important Christian Symbol, along with the reality of the empty tomb, the Resurrected Christ. God bless us everyone. Amen. In Erie PA USA Scott R. Harrington, Wed., August 31, 2011 AD PS In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, so the Cross is neither a Jewish nor a Greek symbol. It is the Universal Christian Symbol for all human beings.
Especially for those who believe in Christ.

I am sorry to disagree with you but the cross is first Jewish from a historical position. It was part of the ancient Hebrew alphabet and the mark that God put on the believers head in Ezek.9. It became adopted by Christian based on the command of Christ to take up the cross and follow him. You are wrong historicaly.

[ChristianTalk]

The Cross: Jewish or Pagan? - YouTube

This video is based on the Cross being Jewish or Pagan.