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.
-St. Justin Martyr,
Dialogue with Trypho 50
“
Listen, therefore,” say I, “
to what follows; for Moses first exhibited this seeming curse of Christ’s by the signs which he made.”
“
Of what [signs] do you speak?” said he.
“
When the people,” replied I, “
waged war with Amalek, and the son of Nave (Nun)
by name Jesus (Joshua)
, led the fight, Moses himself prayed to God, stretching out both hands, and Hur with Aaron supported them during the whole day, so that they might not hang down when he got wearied. For if he gave up any part of this sign, which was an imitation of the cross, the people were beaten, as is recorded in the writings of Moses; but if he remained in this form, Amalek was proportionally defeated, and he who prevailed prevailed by the cross. For it was not because Moses so prayed that the people were stronger, but because, while one who bore the name of Jesus (Joshua)
was in the forefront of the battle, he himself made the sign of the cross. For who of you knows not that the prayer of one who accompanies it with lamentation and tears, with the body prostrate, or with bended knees, propitiates God most of all? But in such a manner neither he nor any other one, while sitting on a stone, prayed. Nor even the stone symbolized Christ, as I have shown.”
-St. Justin Martyr,
Dialogue with Trypho 90:4
The sea is not traversed except that trophy which is called a sail abide safe in the ship … And the human form differs from that of the irrational animals in nothing else than in its being erect and having the hands extended, and having on the face extending from the forehead what is called the nose, through which there is respiration for the living creature; and this shows no other form than that of the cross (σταυρός).
But in no instance, not even in any of those called sons of Jupiter, did they imitate the being crucified; for it was not understood by them, all the things said of it having been put symbolically. And this, as the prophet foretold, is the greatest symbol of His power and role; as is also proved by the things which fall under our observation. For consider all the things in the world, whether without this form they could be administered or have any community. For the sea is not traversed except that trophy which is called
a sail abide safe in the ship; and the earth is not ploughed without it: diggers and mechanics do not their work, except with tools which have this shape. And the human form differs from that of the irrational animals in nothing else than in its being erect and having the hands extended, and having on the face extending from the forehead what is called the nose, through which there is respiration for the living creature; and this shows no other form than that of the cross. And so it was said by the prophet, “
The breath before our face is the Lord Christ.” And the power of this form is shown by your own symbols
[banners]vexilla and trophies, with which all your state possessions are made, using these as the insignia of your power and government, even though you do so unwittingly.
-St. Justin Martyr,
First Apology 55
But that this point is true, that that number which is called five, which agrees in no respect with their argument, and does not harmonize with their system, nor is suitable for a typical manifestation of the things in the Pleroma, [yet has a wide prevalence, ] will be proved as follows from the Scriptures.
Soter is a name of five letters;
Pater, too, contains five letters;
Agape (love), too, consists of five letters; and our Lord, after blessing the five loaves, fed with them five thousand men. Five virgins were called wise by the Lord; and, in like manner, five were styled foolish. Again, five men are said to have been with the Lord when He obtained testimony from the Father—namely, Peter, and James, and John, and Moses, and Elias. The Lord also, as the fifth person, entered into the apartment of the dead maiden, and raised her up again; for, says [the Scripture], He suffered no man to go in, save Peter and James, and the father and mother of the maiden. The rich man in hell declared that he had five brothers, to whom he desired that one rising from the dead should go. The pool from which the Lord commanded the paralytic man to go into his house, had five porches.
The very form of the cross, too, has five extremities, two in length, two in breadth, and one in the middle, on which [last] the person rests who is fixed by the nails.
-St. Irenaeus,
Adversus Haereses 2.24.4
The skins which were put upon his arms are the sins of both peoples, which Christ,
when His hands were stretched forth on the cross, fastened to it along with Himself.
-Hippolytus of Rome, as quoted in St. Jerome’s Epist. 36,
Ad Damasum, 28
If the JW’s show that picture, you can always quote Mt 27:34: “Also, they posted above his **head **the charge against him, in writing: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”” If Jesus was crucified on a “torture stake” with his hands above his head, why does the verse not read “they posted above his hands”?
