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   The jw vatican dlaims the church in the first part of the 4th century   
   changed the shape of the cross from being a pole to the familiar shape with   
   a pole having a crossbar.   
      
   Very very good, that claim is easily tested in history.  When did the first   
   writings of the shape appear?  Short answer; in the 2nd century starting   
   just after the time the NT was finished.   
      
   3 church fathers wrote about the exact shape,ie. a pole ith a crossbar.   
   They wrote in greek and knew exactly the word for chross used in the NT as   
   pole .   
      
   Two of these either new John and/or was a 2nd generation disciple of John.   
   For any who might want to follow up, they were Justin Martyr, Tertullian,   
   and Irenaeus.  The last two have the connection to John.   
      
   One of the last describes the shape of the cross like the mast of a ship   
   with crosbar to hold a sail.  The greek word in the NT also used tthe greek   
   word "pole" to mean a ship's mast and other upright wooden items.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)