📖 Biblical Definition
Greek stauros, cross / upright stake, the principal NT term for the cross of Christ. The Roman stauros was the most degrading and excruciating instrument of execution in the ancient world — reserved for slaves, rebels, and the worst criminals, and explicitly cursed by Mosaic law as a sign of God's judgment (Deuteronomy 21:23, he that is hanged is accursed of God; cited by Paul at Galatians 3:13). The NT theology of stauros is at the heart of the gospel. Christ's death on the cross is the substitutionary atonement: 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 (Galatians 3:13). The cross is the locus of God's wrath against sin satisfied (Romans 3:25, the propitiation; Romans 5:9, justified by His blood, saved from wrath; Hebrews 10:10-14, the once-for-all sacrifice). The cross is the place where the principalities and powers are disarmed and openly triumphed over (Colossians 2:15). Paul's preaching is supremely the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18, the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God; 1 Corinthians 2:2, I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified). The Lord Jesus calls His disciples to take up their cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). The Reformed-confessional doctrine of the atonement (Westminster VIII; Heidelberg Q. 37) articulates the substantive NT cross-theology against both Roman Catholic mass-as-resacrifice and modern liberal denial of substitutionary atonement. The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the cross as the central act of redemption and the central pattern of Christian discipleship.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Greek stauros (G4716), cross / upright stake; principal NT term for Christ's cross; locus of substitutionary atonement (Galatians 3:13); central pattern of Christian discipleship (Luke 9:23).
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STAUROS, Greek noun (G4716; upright stake, cross) The principal NT term for the cross of Christ. Roman stauros: the most degrading and excruciating execution instrument; reserved for slaves, rebels, worst criminals; cursed by Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 21:23). NT theology: Christ's death is substitutionary atonement (Galatians 3:13, made a curse for us); the locus of God's wrath against sin satisfied (Romans 3:25; 5:9; Hebrews 10:10-14); the place where principalities are disarmed (Colossians 2:15). Paul's preaching: the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18); Jesus Christ, and him crucified (2:2). Disciple's call: take up cross daily (Luke 9:23). Reformed-confessional doctrine of atonement: Westminster VIII; Heidelberg Q. 37.
📖 Key Scripture
Galatians 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."
1 Corinthians 1:18 — "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
1 Corinthians 2:2 — "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
Luke 9:23 — "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Roman Catholic mass-as-resacrifice corrupts the cross's once-for-all completeness; modern liberal theology denies substitutionary atonement; Reformed-confessional doctrine retains the NT substance.
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The two principal historical corruptions of the cross-doctrine are opposite. Roman Catholic mass-theology treats the eucharistic mass as a re-presentation or re-offering of Christ's sacrifice, contradicting the once-for-all completeness of the cross (Hebrews 10:10-14, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all; by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified). Modern theological liberalism denies substitutionary atonement altogether, treating Christ's death as moral example, prophet's martyrdom, or symbolic identification with human suffering, rather than as the substitutionary satisfaction of divine wrath against sin. The Reformed-confessional doctrine of the atonement (Westminster VIII; the doctrine of penal substitution) retains the NT substance: Christ bore our curse, satisfied God's wrath, accomplished our redemption once for all on the cross.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
G4716; Roman execution instrument; substitutionary atonement; Pauline cross-theology.
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['Greek', 'G4716', 'stauros', 'cross, upright stake']
['Greek', 'G4717', 'stauroo', 'to crucify (verb)']
['Latin', '—', 'crux', 'cross (Latin equivalent)']
Usage
"Stauros: cross; Roman execution instrument and locus of substitutionary atonement."
"Paul's preaching: Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2)."
"Disciple's pattern: take up cross daily (Luke 9:23)."