It is not enough for Timothy jay Schwab who is The God Culture to deny Jesus Christ fulfilled His work on the cross now he must deny Jesus was even crucified at all. He was actually "staked."
The gist of it is that the Cross is an occult symbol never found in the Bible and the Greek word translated cross does not mean a t-shaped cross but a singular pole or stake. Let's take his claims one at a time.
1. The Cross is an occult symbol of the sun god and was introduced by Constantine.
3:40 They claim the origin of this practice of infusing the sun god symbol into Christianity is Constantine the not so Great around 312 A.D. or so.
This is simply not true. The early church did in fact use the symbol of the cross before Constantine arrived on the scene. Here are three of many testimonies to this fact.
The first is from Justin Martyr.
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, 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.
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.viii.iv.xl.html
The second is from Tertullian, a man Tim has misused many times in his videos and books.
At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf03.iv.vi.iii.html
The sign is, of course, the cross.
The third is from Minucius Felix.
Crosses, moreover, we neither worship nor wish for. You, indeed, who consecrate gods of wood, adore wooden crosses perhaps as parts of your gods. For your very standards, as well as your banners; and flags of your camp, what else are they but crosses glided and adorned? Your victorious trophies not only imitate the appearance of a simple cross, but also that of a man affixed to it. We assuredly see the sign of a cross, naturally, in the ship when it is carried along with swelling sails, when it glides forward with expanded oars; and when the military yoke is lifted up, it is the sign of a cross; and when a man adores God with a pure mind, with hands outstretched. Thus the sign of the cross either is sustained by a natural reason, or your own religion is formed with respect to it.
Chapter 29
Minucius says the sign of the cross is seen when a man adores god with his hands outstretched. That is NOT the image of an upright pole but of a t-shaped cross.
2. The Greek word stauros only and always means an upright stake and never a Roman crucifix.
7:03 The Greek word is Stauros for an upright stake not a Roman crucifix which even makes its way into Bible concordances and definitions in fraud and we find that on several topics. It is never cross. No. Even its root word means upright stand as in upright stake not crucifix.
This is where Tim should have gone in depth but chose not to do so. History testifies the Romans did in fact crucify criminals on t-shaped crosses and not only on upright poles. The word can refer to both.
The Greek-English Lexicon of Liddell and Scott reports that the meaning of the word "σταυρός" in the early Homeric form of Greek, possibly of the eighth to sixth century BC, and also in the writings of the fifth-century BC writers Herodotus and Thucydides and the early-4th century BC Xenophon, is "an upright pale or stake" used to build a palisade or "a pile driven in to serve as a foundation." It reports that in the writings of the first-century BC Diodorus Siculus, first-century AD Plutarch and early second-century Lucian—as well as in Matthew 27:40, Luke 9:23, 14:27—the word "σταυρός" is used to refer to a cross, either as the instrument of crucifixion or metaphorically of voluntary suffering; "its form was indicated by the Greek letter Τ". It also reports that Plutarch used the word with regard to a pale for impaling a corpse. Of the writers whom Liddell and Scott gives as using "σταυρός" to mean a cross, the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology holds that in Diodorus Siculus the word probably means a stake for hanging. Plutarch (in An vitiositas ad infelicitatem sufficiat) distinguishes crucifixion on a stauros from impalement on a skolops.
Joel B. Green, in The Cambridge Companion to Jesus, says the evidence of the manner of Jesus' death is far more ambiguous than is generally realised. Literary sensibilities in Roman antiquity did not promote graphic descriptions of the act of crucifixion, and even the Gospels report simply, "They crucified him", adding no further detail. According to Green, the Romans were slaves to no standard technique of crucifixion: "In describing the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman army, for example, Josephus reports that 'the soldiers out of rage and hatred amused themselves by nailing their prisoners in different positions' (J.W. 5.449–51). Elsewhere we learn that victims of crucifixion might be fixed to the stake in order to die, or impaled after death as a public display. They might be fixed to the cross with nails or with ropes. That Jesus was nailed to the cross is intimated in several texts (John 20.25; Acts 2.23; Col 2.14; Gos. Pet. 6.21; Justin Dial. 97). Nor can we turn to archaeological evidence for assistance."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_of_Jesus%27_crucifixion
The fact is if Tim really wanted to "test all things" he would not have done a shoddy fly-by night piece like this. If the word and subject are worth researching then he should have done that and not given his audience a shallow milquetoast word study which conceals more than it reveals. There are depths to plumb but Tim stays in the kiddie pool.
3. Jesus was crucified on a tree.
8:57 Peter and Luke in Acts are very clear Yahusha was hung on a tree. Uh, three times here it's translated as tree, not a Roman crucifix symbol of the Sun God. No. His enemy whom they also try to associate him in birth, uh, the exact opposite time of year. Watch "When Was Jesus Born" series. Hmm. Not a coincidence
Paul also quoting the Old Testament refers to this same Greek word saying cursed is every man who hangs on a tree. Now, this is not a Roman crucifix and what he's quoting comes from an ancient precedence before there was ever a Rome. This Greek word also leads us to tree or stake not a Roman crucifix period. in the origin of the words of Galatians we just saw Paul quotes is Deuteronomy 21:22-23 in Hebrew this word tree or upright stake remains and more than 1,000 years before the Roman Empire even existed, uh, well, it's not talking about a Roman crucifix. Duh.
Luke says the following:
Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
If we take this at face value Jesus was slain and then His body was hung on a tree. Is that what happened? No. He was nailed to a cross and died on it. So, we cannot take this verse literally.
Peter says:
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
The Greek word here can be translated tree, or wood.
Interestingly this word is translated stave five times!
Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
What is a stave but a vertical wooden pole or a strong stick used as a weapon?
vertical wooden post or plank in a building or other structure.
a strong wooden stick or iron pole used as a weapon.
This is the same instrument on which Tim is claiming Jesus died. So why isn't the word translated stave in Acts or Peter? Because they are being metaphorical. Obviously Jesus did not die on a literal tree. Nor did he die on a stick. He died on a t-shaped cross.
That brings us to Paul who says in Galatians:
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
This is a citation from Deuteronomy.
Deut 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
23: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled,which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
The word translated tree can mean many things but it is most translated tree 162 times.
Joshua hangs the king of Ai upon a tree.
Jos 8:29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide:and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
Unless the Israelites built a gallows, as this word is translated in Esther, it is safe to assume that they hanged him on an actual tree.
But was Jesus hung on an actual tree? Did the Romans slay him and then hang his body upon a tree as Luke writes? It is patently obvious that the Romans did not crucify people on trees. There is no historical record of the Romans nailing people to literal trees. Tree is metaphorical for the wood of the cross. Of course Tim says otherwise and thinks Jesus was nailed to a literal tree.
The God Culture: "Cross" is only a representation in English erroneously and has never been proven to even be an accurate symbol but most certainly has very ancient occult roots as a symbol of the sun god. One would think scholars and Bible translators over the years would not be so stupid as to insert such an occult symbol when it is not there. They should have steered far away from it unless it was a 100% connection. In this case, it 0% in connection and this reveals an infusion of the occult into the Bible which is disgusting. In Greek, it is not a cross either time and derives from the Old Testament use quoted by Paul as we cover of a far more ancient execution style documented by Moses even. Yahusha was far more likely placed on a stake or pole of sort or the best representation is nailed to a tree itself as Paul, Luke and Peter affirm. Yah Bless.
Again, if Tim wanted to go in depth about what it means for Jesus to have been hung on a tree he could have done so but he did not, so let's move on.
4. Christians do not use symbols.
:37 Well, if one wears a cross around their neck they are, well not representing Messiah. It's not His symbol. Exactly. Uh, he has no symbols. The Bible doesn't have it. That is not a Bible practice it is the occult which relies very heavily on their magic talisman and symbols.
10:36 When Constantine the worshipper of the son God, who was no Christian until his deathbed, which is impertinent, infused his Persian religion into what they call Christianity and he made it a state religion even. This is entirely contrived and a clear attempt to instill the occult into our churches where they even display this ancient occult symbol very prominently. Uh, never even used by the early ecclesias nor the Bible at all. They didn't use symbols. The Bible doesn't need them.
Christians don't use symbols? The Bible doesn't use symbols? Messiah has no symbols? What does Tim think the bread and wine used in communion are if not symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ? What does he think all the sacrifices in the Old Testament are if not symbols of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
As for the symbol of the cross I already cited three early Christians who testify to the use of the t-shaped cross long before Constantine. Are we to suppose they who lived in the Roman Empire were ignorant of what it meant for Jesus to be crucified? Why do they not refer to the stake or pole if Jesus was in fact nailed to a stake or pole and not a t-shaped cross?
Did you know the cross does show up in the Old Testament?
Exodus 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
It looks like this:
Moses delivered the people with this sign. As long as he made the sign of the cross there was victory but as soon as he let down his hands there was defeat. Likewise the Cross of Jesus Christ, which Moses typifies in this passage, defeats death, hell, and the devil. We have victory in Him through his sign.
The cross shows up again in the book of Numbers.
Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Jesus refers to this event as a type of his crucifixion.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
How was Jesus lifted up? On a t-shaped cross. The early church testifies to this and the Bible certainly does not contradict that fact despite the ambiguity of the word stauros.
Again, these two instances in the Old Testament are missed opportunities for Tim who thinks 13 minutes is enough for this topic. Since he wants to call the cross an occult symbol what is the deal with 13 minutes? Why did it have to be that number which is rather occult and not in a good way?
Given how prone Tim is to making hour-long, multi-part series on various topics it is kind of odd that he would devote a scant 13 minutes to a topic which many actual Bible scholars have devoted considerable time. Taking a look at the Greek word, its usage in literature besides the Bible, and commentaries upon it, it is clear that "stauros" is a bit ambiguous and can indeed mean a simple stake or a t-shaped cross. Likewise the word translated tree can mean many things besides an actual tree. It all depends on the context.
Then there are the two references to a cross in the Old Testament. Granted the description of the pole made by Moses does not say it is a t-shaped cross but given that it is a symbol of Christ why should we think otherwise? What better way to drape a serpent on a pole than by adding a crossbeam to make a t-shape? But Tim does not investigate any of that. Instead he delivers a 13 minute hit piece which doesn't tell us anything at all that could be considered authoritative or final.
So, there it is folks. According to Timothy Jay Schwab of The God Culture not only did Jesus Christ not finish His work on the Cross but he did not even die on the Cross for our sins.
