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Topic:
Cross
From Easton's Bible Dictionary...
In the New Testament the instrument of crucifixion, and hence used
for the crucifixion of Christ itself (Eph. 2:16; Heb. 12:2; 1 Cor. 1:17,
18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12, 14; Phil. 3:18). The word is also used to denote
any severe affliction or trial (Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21).
The forms in which the cross is represented are these: 1. The crux
simplex (I), a "single piece without transom." 2. The crux
decussata (X), or St. Andrew's cross. 3. The crux commissa (T), or St.
Anthony's cross. 4. The crux immissa (t), or Latin cross, which was the
kind of cross on which our Saviour died. Above our Lord's head, on the
projecting beam, was placed the "title." After the conversion,
so-called, of Constantine the Great (B.C. 313), the cross first came
into use as an emblem of Christianity. He pretended at a critical moment
that he saw a flaming cross in the heavens bearing the inscription,
"In hoc signo vinces", i.e., By this sign thou shalt conquer,
and that on the following night Christ himself appeared and ordered him
to take for his standard the sign of this cross. In this form a new
standard, called the Labarum, was accordingly made, and borne by the
Roman armies. It remained the standard of the Roman army till the
downfall of the Western empire. It bore the embroidered monogram of
Christ, i.e., the first two Greek letters of his name, X and P (chi and
rho), with the Alpha and Omega.
From Smith's Bible Dictionary...
As the emblem of a slave's death and a murderer's punishment, the
cross was naturally looked upon with the profoundest horror. But after
the celebrated vision of Constantine, he ordered his friends to make a
cross of gold and gems, such as he had seen, and "the towering
eagles resigned the flags unto the cross," and "the tree of
cursing and shame" "sat upon the sceptres and was engraved and
signed on the foreheads of kings." (Jer. Taylor, "Life of
Christ," iii., xv. 1.) The new standards were called by the name
Labarum, and may be seen on the coins of Constantine the Great and his
nearer successors. The Latin cross on which our Lord suffered, was int
he form of the letter T, and had an upright above the cross-bar, on
which the "title" was placed. There was a projection from the
central stem, on which the body of the sufferer rested. This was to
prevent the weight of the body from tearing away the hands. Whether
there was also a support to the feet (as we see in pictures) is
doubtful. An inscription was generally placed above the criminal's head,
briefly expressing his guilt, and generally was carried before him. It
was covered with white gypsum, and the letter were black.
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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