Written by Benoît Santos - Updated on Oct 27, 2024
There are many Christian symbols, but the Cross is undoubtedly the best known and most powerful of them all. It recalls the Death of Jesus which led to Salvation . And it is the very foundation of the Christian religion. Currently, the Cross is represented in different forms. From the Catholic cross to the Maltese cross, including the Orthodox cross, it is not always easy to find your way around. Especially since the list is still long!
Many believers unfortunately cannot distinguish all these variants. It is precisely to shed light on this that we have decided to offer you this article on the Origin of the Christian Cross . You will therefore discover in this text:
- The origin of the cross of Jesus
- The Pre-Christian Cross
- The Christian Cross: a universal symbol
- The Modern Use of the Christian Cross
Now let's get to the heart of the matter.
1) Origin of the Cross of Jesus
A. Cross Shapes: The Best Known
The cross of Christ is a symbol of the instrument of the crucifixion where the Lord Jesus was crucified. In Christianity, a crucifix is a large cross with a three-dimensional representation of the body of Christ. The two most common forms present in the Christian religion are: the Greek Cross and the Latin Cross . The shape of the cross is specific to each of them. The Greek cross is a smaller cross than the Latin one. In the image below we can see the left cross (Latin) which is larger than the right (Greek).
B. Birth of the Christian Cross
The cross became the Christian emblem and symbol from the 4th century. Between the 4th and 5th centuries, the symbol of the son of God began to spread in religious buildings . It was only from the 6th century that the cross began to be gradually used as an emblem of Christ. Both icons: God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, were venerated by the holy sacred cross in those times.
C. Jesus Carrying His Cross
Even though the cross took on this importance some time after Jesus of Nazareth was crucified , it was in Jerusalem that it all began. For the Roman Empire, the cross was a symbol of torment and torture. Only the great brigands were crucified on the cross of the curse! This Christian symbol was therefore born in the eyes of the people of Jerusalem . An order given by Pilate by sending his Roman soldiers to seek the Lord near his faithful apostles eating Jesus' last meal. He was required to carry the Cross to the top of the hill of Jerusalem 😧 This was the ultimate punishment of charity that Jesus went through to forgive all the sins of the world!
You will be impressed to see thisStatue of Jesus Carrying the Ancient Cross with a perfect carving of Christ carrying the Cross where he was crucified!
D. The Use of the Ancient Cross: The First Christians
The Holy Cross as a Christian symbol has its roots in ancient paganism. The use of the Christian cross began after the time of Constantine, which occurred three centuries after the coming of Christ. The crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross, gave a new meaning to the use of the cross in Christianity. Before the resurrection of Jesus , the cross was used privately by the Early Christians . Its purpose was restricted. After the death of Constantine, the use of the cross was recognized as a religious symbol.
E. The Great Message of the Cross
SACRIFICE OF SIN
There are cases where the veneration of the symbol of the cross can be more present passing from one religion to another. But in most churches, they almost all venerate the cross of Christ as a glorious symbol of Jesus who delivered us from all our sins . Even if some Christians venerate the cross more than others, as in Catholicism for example, this does not remove the fact that the cross is a Sign of Wisdom . A man having given his holy soul to hell for the purpose of delivering us from our sins for the purpose of transmitting to us the good word of God. Who by his act was sent to the abyss of the cemetery and by the grace of God, resurrected three days later arriving from heaven. The death of Christ and the resurrection of Jesus, then became a historical moment until this day!
IN HOMAGE TO JESUS CHRIST
We know him and love him for his sacrifice. As a token of his goodness and as a tribute to Jesus Christ, we offer you this collection of Jesus t-shirts for all those who desire to live close to the Holy Spirit. 😌
2) Pre-Christian cross
A. Origin of the pre-Christian Cross
A large body of evidence shows that the cross of Jesus was used centuries before the birth of Christianity. The cross is thought to have originated with the ancient Babylonians before it spread to other parts of the world such as Syria, Egypt, Greece, Latin, India and Mexico. The pre-Christian Cross was used as a religious symbol and as an ornament. It was used among the Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, Persians, Europeans and in parts of Africa. The use of the pre-Christian cross was therefore universal. In many cases, its use was usually linked to some form of worship.
B. The forms of the pre-Christian Cross
The pre-Christian cross existed in two forms: the tau cross and the fylfot or swastika.
- There tau cross resembles the Greek capital letter T.
- The fylfot cross looks like four Greek capital letters G placed together.
The tau cross was first used by pagans. It was later adopted by the Christians of Egypt where its use became common. For this reason, the tau cross is sometimes called the Egyptian cross.
3) Christian Cross Universal Symbol
A. Crosses in the Churches
The use of the cross as a Christian Symbol is universally practiced. Churches, whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant, have crosses placed, carved or drawn on the doors, windows and walls of their religious buildings. The cross will forever remain an important symbol of the life of Jesus and an Emblem Venerated by all Religious in the Churches .
B. The Acts of the Apostles: According to Luke
The History of the Christian Church begins in the biblical book of Acts of the Apostles. Truly, it provides an accurate historical record of the early church. Luke is credited with authoring this book and perhaps no other book in the Bible provides as many tests confirming the legitimacy of the epistles. The religious book in question is called the Acts of the Apostles . It is so named to cover the scattering of the disciples to preach the gospel of Jesus and the establishment of the first Christian church in Antioch and beyond. Luke writes of the rise and growth of the church in Jerusalem after Christ's ascension. He sets forth theological lessons, Peter's sermon (chapter 2), and vivid examples of the work of the Holy Spirit from the day of Pentecost onward. This Spirit-inspired evangelism spread from Jerusalem to Rome and throughout the Roman Empire. It was a very important moment that saw the birth of more Christians worshipping the good word of God and the cross of Jesus ! In addition to the Christian faith coming from God brought to the people, funds of money and objects of great value in those times were collected to share with the poor. A wonderful story about the piggy bank could tell you more about the existence of this pig-shaped object.
C. The First Christian Missionaries
The first missionaries in the history of the Christian church included: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon, Matthias, Barnabas, and Mark. These disciples were completely filled with the Holy Spirit and there was a new sense of commitment carried out with boldness. Paul, Timothy, and Barnabas, and others were soon added. All, except John, were brutally persecuted and faced painful deaths under torture for carrying the message of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross!
The suffering they had to endure was worse than knee pain . The disciples of Christ were by far the most courageous men who were capable of anything for their master.
D. Evangelization of Nations
Over the centuries, God has sent disciples , apostles, and missionaries to spread the gospel and establish new churches where they had never heard of Jesus and His sacrifice. Without the vigorous efforts over the centuries of people like Patrick, John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, Billy Graham, and many others, magnitudes would not have been made known about Christ. Countless Christians throughout history have been persecuted and martyred because they held to their Faith in Christ . Names include Steven, Ignatius, Polycarp, Joan of Arc, and thousands more. Christian persecutions still exist today in countries like China, Zaire, and Sudan. But the praise of Christianity and the Christian Cross thrives because of the steadfast faith of God’s people and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
E. The Christian Truth
Jesus Christ did not come to earth to found a religion, but to open the way to a personal relationship with God . He came to atone for the sins of mankind (John 3:16-17) and to teach his disciples to go out into the world to share this message of salvation . Through the obedience of the disciples' teaching throughout Judea to the Samaritans and then to the Gentiles, the good news of Jesus spread rapidly. The crucifixion of Jesus on the cross has been one of the most used symbols to mark the story of Christ and for the world to be touched by his story and to know the extent of Christian truth . This has allowed God's message to continue to flourish and become an immutable truth in the eyes of humanity!
4) The modern use of the Christian Cross
A. Christian Cross Jewelry
Many Christians around the world wear Cross Pendants on their necklaces, rings , bracelets and many others, as a sacred sign that will bring them luck in living with Christ. That is why at the Christian Crosses store we help you direct your Christian soul to God! 😇
You will appreciate our cross jewelry collection with several quality religious jewelry. In this collection you will find several sub-collections from our Christian cross necklaces, to our religious rings, then our religious bracelets, and many more. Each sacred jewel bearing the shape of the cross is a unique accessory specially designed for all believing Christians . All our items are delivered free of charge to your home.
B. Religious Paintings: Christian Crosses
Today, the Christian cross is represented in various ways in order to always keep the emblem of the Christian faith close to you 🙇 It is also found in Religious Houses either by a cross with Jesus crucified or by a simple cross. It has become a symbolic image for all those who believe in the faith of Christ! At Croix Chrétiennes, our team has made it its goal to transmit the heritage of our God through unique sacred goods ! Our magnificent religious paintings will enrich your life for a better connection with the Holy Spirit!
We find the same symbol of the cross in our collection of religious paintings. You can find several different paintings for a unique sacred decor like this sublime Painting Christ on the Cross or this glorious Religious Painting Religious Cross for a luminous decoration highlighting the cross!
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