Did Jesus die on a cross?
The answer that the Bible gives
For many, the cross is the symbol of Christianity. However, the instrument of execution that was used in the case of Jesus is not described in the Bible. So nobody knows for sure what it was like. Anyway, the Bible lets us see that Jesus did not die on a cross, but on a wood, or vertical stick.
When referring to this instrument, the Bible usually uses the Greek term stauros (Matthew 27:40, John 19:17). Although many translations pour this word as "cross", many scholars believe that "denotes, primarily, a stick or right stake." * According to a certain work of consultation, stauros "never refers to two pieces of wood joined at some angle" (A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament).
The Bible also uses the Greek term xýlon as a synonym for stauros (Acts 5:30, 1 Peter 2:24). This word means "wood", "wood", "stake", "stick" or "tree". In a note incorporated into the work Universal History of the Catholic Church, by René F. Rohrbacher, it is explained that both this term and its Hebrew equivalent "do not properly mean what we understand by the cross, but a simple wood".
Does God approve of the use of the cross?
Crux simplex is the Latin name of the wood or stick to which the delinquents set themselves
Regardless of the form of Jesus' instrument of execution, the Bible gives us reasons to conclude that Christians should not use the cross to worship God. Let's see three.
God detests being worshiped by images or symbols, such as the cross. To the Israelites, God commanded them not to use "any symbol" in their worship. For their part, Christians received the following command: "Flee from idolatry" (Deuteronomy 4: 15-19, 1 Corinthians 10:14).
The first Christians did not use the cross. All Christians must imitate the example of the apostles and follow their teachings (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
The cross was a symbol of pagan religion. Hundreds of years after the death of Jesus, when the congregations had departed from their teachings, the new members "were allowed to keep largely their signs and symbols," including the cross (Expository dictionary of Old and Comprehensive New Testament, entry "Crucify, cross"). However, the Bible has never supported the practice of adopting pagan symbols to make new disciples (2 Corinthians 6:17).