CROSS in Pre-Nicene Writings .... a CROSS-beam Attached to a Pole

Photo courtesy of  Mustard Seed International The Brazen Serpent Monument  over-looking Mt. Nebo, Jordan

The Pre-Nicene Early Christian writers, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1: 

• Justin Martyr (c. 110-165 AD,  of Samaria ) and 
• Irenaeus ( C. 120 - 202 AD, approximated dates, of Syria; later made Bishop of Lyons, France ) 

both had much to say regarding the Crucifixion of Y'SHU the M'SHIKHA ( JESUS CHRIST ) in their apologies for The Way + ... the Way+ of the CROSS ... not the " stake."

CROSS photo by the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ 

Yes, it is crucial to realize Our LORD died innocently as the Sacrificial LAMB+ of ALAHA to deliver us from sin, hell, and death, by whatever means HE+ and His+ Heavenly FATHER chose to use. 

It is also crucial to realize the CROSS was presented as a pattern and type throughout the Old Covenant .... 

so that... 

His+ IDENTIFICATION could be readily established for those awaiting the Messiah+, when the true M'SHIKHA+ became incarnate upon this earth. 

Scripture accounts tell us there were some false Messiahs who proclaimed themselves and they too were slain or taken captive. But, the false Messiahs did NOT fit the pattern of identification which was established in the Old Covenant.

Also pertinent to this discussion is the problematic use of STAKE instead of CROSS  found throughout the Netzarim Publishing House's Aramaic-English New Testament by Mr. Andrew Roth ... in spite of all linguistic and lexical authorities ! 

Herein is the CRUCIAL issue: By changing CROSS to "stake,"  Mr. Roth changes the stake to STAFF ~  and hence extrapolates that to a staff of authority !  

Matthew 10:38, AENT, verbatim ~ supposedly words of Y'SHU+ (JESUS, in English):  

"And anyone that does not take up his staff (107) and come and follow me is not worthy of me."  

Footnote 107 shows the AENT's purpose in changing CROSS to "stake" and "stake" to "staff."  It states: 

"Take up your staff and follow means to exercise your personal authority .  A staff is a symbol of authority that is used for mobility and protection ( see B'midbar / Numbers 17:1-10 or 17:16-25 in Jewish versions). Christian versions insert "cross" here which does not appear in either Aramaic or Greek texts. See Pole, the Standard , in Appendix. " [ Unfortunately for his readers, this statement is inaccurate in all points regarding the Aramaic and Greek texts.  SrJH.  + + +]

At this point, let me insert a note of interest. "NES"  is the transliterated Hebrew word for POLE , that pole upon which Moses was ordered to place the brazen serpent for the healing of the Hebrews bitten by poisonous serpents.  



In fact, this "NES" was not a sturdy up-right timber, like a modern telephone pole. Rather, it was a frame-work for a BANNER, the kind with a cross-pole affixed to an upright pole. The banner was NOT like a pennant flying at the top of a sports stadium, but rather a rectangular banner going before a group with its family crest or ensign upon it. See this pictured above of that "pole" at Mount Nebo, Jordan.  

So now, let us look at what Justin Martyr states in his writings about the PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION of the CROSS of Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA.  

Justin’s Dialogue with Trypho, 

pg. 214-215

Courtesy of www.biblestudytools.com

Chapter XL.-He Returns to the Mosaic Laws, and Proves that They Were Figures of the Things Which Pertain to Christ.

"The mystery, then, of the lamb which God enjoined to be sacrificed as the passover, was a type of Christ; with whose blood, in proportion to their faith in Him, they anoint their houses, i.e., themselves, who believe on Him. For that the creation which God created-to wit, Adam-was a house for the spirit which proceeded from God, you all can understand. And that this injunction was temporary, I prove thus.

 God does not permit the lamb of the passover to be sacrificed in any other place than where His name was named; knowing that the days will come, after the suffering of Christ, when even the place in Jerusalem shall be given over to your enemies, and all the offerings, in short, shall cease; and that lamb which was commanded to be wholly roasted was a symbol of the suffering of the cross which Christ would undergo.

 For the lamb,(108) which is roasted, is roasted and dressed up in the form of the cross. 

For one spit is transfixed right through from the lower parts up to the head, and one across the back, to which are attached the legs of the lamb.

And the two goats which were ordered to be offered during the fast, of which one was sent away as the scape [goat], and the other sacrificed, were similarly declarative of the two appearances of Christ: the first, in which the elders of your people, and the priests, having laid hands on Him and put Him to death, sent Him away as the scape [goat]; 

and His second appearance, because in the same place in Jerusalem you shall recognise Him whom you have dishonoured, and who was an offering for all sinners willing to repent, and keeping the fast which Isaiah speaks of, loosening the terms(109) of the violent contracts, and keeping the other precepts, likewise enumerated by him, and which I have quoted,(110) which those believing in Jesus do. And further, you are aware that the offering of the two goats, which were enjoined to be sacrificed at the fast, was not permitted to take place similarly anywhere else, but only in Jerusalem.

Justin’s Dialogue with Trypho, 

pg 244-235 

Courtesy of www.biblestudytools.com

Chapter XCI.-

The Cross Was Foretold in the Blessings of Joseph, 

and in the Serpent that Was Lifted Up.

"And God by Moses shows in another way the force of the mystery of the cross, when He said in the blessing wherewith Joseph was blessed,

 `From the blessing of the Lord is his land; for the seasons of heaven, and for the dews, and for the deep springs from beneath, and for the seasonable fruits of the sun,(356) and for the coming together of the months, and for the heights of the everlasting mountains, and for the heights of the hills, and for the ever-flowing rivers, and for the fruits of the fatness of the earth; and let the things accepted by Him who appeared in the bush come on the head and crown of Joseph.

 Let HIM+ be glorified among his brethren;(357) his beauty is [like] the firstling of a bullock; his horns the horns of an unicorn: with these shall he push the nations from one end of the earth to another.'(358)

 Now, no one could say or prove that the horns of an unicorn represent any other fact or figure than the type which portrays the cross.

 For the one beam is placed upright, from which the highest extremity is raised up into a horn, when the other beam is fitted on to it, and the ends appear on both sides as horns joined on to the one horn. 

And the part which is fixed in the centre, on which are suspended those who are crucified, also stands out like a horn; and it also looks like a horn conjoined and fixed with the other horns. [ Apparently, this is in reference to what the Eastern Orthodox and other churches term the "sedle" upon which a body rested during the death throes while hanging upon the cross. SrJH  + + +]

And the expression, `With these shall he push as with horns the nations from one end of the earth to another, 'is indicative of what is now the fact among all the nations. For some out of all the nations, through the power of this mystery, having been so pushed, that is, pricked in their hearts, have turned from vain idols and demons to serve God. But the same figure is revealed for the destruction and condemnation of the unbelievers; even as Amalek was defeated and Israel victorious when the people came out of Egypt, by means of the type of the stretching out of Moses' hands, and the name of Jesus (Joshua), by which the son of Nave (Nun) was called. 

And it seems that the type and sign, which was erected to counteract the serpents which bit Israel, was intended for the salvation of those who believe that death was declared to come thereafter on the serpent through Him that would be crucified, but salvation to those who had been bitten by him and had betaken themselves to Him that sent His Son into the world to be crucified.(359) For the Spirit of prophecy by Moses did not teach us to believe in the serpent, since it shows us that he was cursed by God from the beginning; and in Isaiah tells us that he shall be put to death as an enemy by the mighty sword, which is Christ.

FIRST APOLOGY OF JUSTIN pg. 174

Courtesy of www.biblestudytools.com

Chapter XXXV.-Other Fulfilled Prophecies.

And how CHRIST after HE+ was born was to escape the notice of other men until HE+ grew to man's estate, which also came to pass, hear what was foretold regarding this.

There are the following predictions:(67) -"Unto us a child is born, and unto us a young man is given, and the government shall be upon His+ shoulders; "(68) which is significant of the power of the cross, for to it, when HE+ was crucified, HE+ applied His+ shoulders, as shall be more clearly made out in the ensuing discourse.

And again the same prophet Isaiah, being inspired by the prophetic Spirit, said, "I have spread out my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people, to those who walk in a way that is not good. They now ask of me judgment, and dare to draw near to God."(69)

 And again in other words, through another prophet, He says, "They pierced My hands and My feet, and for My vesture they cast lots."(70) 

And indeed David, the king and prophet, who uttered these things, suffered none of them; but JESUS CHRIST stretched forth His+ hands, being crucified by the Jews speaking against Him+, and denying that HE+ was the CHRIST.

And as the prophet spoke, they tormented Him, and set Him on the judgment-seat, and said, Judge us. And the expression, "They pierced my hands and my feet," was used in reference to the nails of the cross which were fixed in His hands and feet.

And after He was crucified they cast lots upon His vesture, and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that these things did happen, you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate.(71) And we will cite the prophetic utterances of another prophet, Zephaniah,(72) to the effect that He was foretold expressly as to sit upon the foal of an ass and to enter Jerusalem. The words are these: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."(73)

Next Post:  
The CROSS words of Irenaeus 
from the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1.