The Watchtower’s Misuse of Justus Lipsius’ Work to Deny the Cross of Christ

One of the most controversial theological positions held by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) is their claim that Jesus did not die on a traditional cross but rather on a simple upright stake, or “torture stake.” This teaching departs not only from centuries of Christian tradition but also from archaeological, linguistic, and historical evidence. A striking example of this misrepresentation appears in the 1969 edition of the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures—particularly in the Appendix on page 1156.

Here, the Watchtower attempted to validate their doctrine by citing the work of the 16th-century scholar Justus Lipsius (Latin: Iustus Lipsius) and his treatise De Cruce Libri Tres (Three Books on the Cross), published in 1594. They included an image from his work showing a man impaled on a single stake, falsely implying that Lipsius supported the idea that Jesus was executed in this manner. However, this is a gross misrepresentation of Lipsius’ actual position and the contents of his book.

Who Was Justus Lipsius?

Justus Lipsius was a renowned Flemish philologist and humanist scholar of the late Renaissance. His treatise De Cruce is an exhaustive historical and literary study of the Roman use of various instruments of execution, particularly the cross. He was not speculating or theorizing theological doctrine—he was documenting historical fact, including Roman crucifixion methods from classical sources.

What Did Lipsius Actually Teach?

In De Cruce, Lipsius described several types of crosses used by the Romans, including the crux simplex (a single upright stake) and the crux compacta (a structure with a crossbeam). While he acknowledges that impalement on a stake existed as a form of execution in antiquity, he clearly affirmed that Jesus died on a traditional cross—the kind with a crossbeam, known as a crux immissa or crux capitata (†).

The clearest proof of Lipsius’ position is found in Book I, Chapter 5, page 47 of his original Latin work, where he included an illustration of Jesus on a cross with a crossbeam. This image shows Jesus nailed to a traditional two-beamed cross, the form most commonly associated with Roman crucifixion and universally accepted in Christian tradition.

The Watchtower’s Misleading Use of Lipsius’ Work

In the 1969 Kingdom Interlinear Appendix, the Watchtower Society placed an illustration of a man impaled on a single upright stake. This image does appear in Lipsius’ work, but it was not used to depict Jesus’ crucifixion. Instead, it was part of his academic explanation of Roman execution methods in general. The Watchtower did not include the illustration of Jesus on a traditional cross that Lipsius himself used to represent the crucifixion of Christ.

This selective presentation of evidence amounts to a serious case of academic dishonesty. Lipsius’ work, when read in full, refutes the very claim the Watchtower tries to make. By omitting the page 47 image and context, the Society misled readers into believing Lipsius supported their interpretation, when in fact, he did not.

Scholarly Consensus and Linguistic Evidence

Beyond the misquotation of Lipsius, linguistic and archaeological evidence also supports the traditional cross. The Greek word “stauros” (σταυρός), while it could mean “stake” in earlier Greek usage, had by the Roman period evolved to commonly mean a cross-shaped execution device. Greek-speaking Christians of the first centuries, including Church Fathers, used the word with full awareness of Roman crucifixion practices—and they understood it to mean a cross with a crossbeam.

Conclusion: Misleading Scholarship Undermines Trust

The misuse of Justus Lipsius’ De Cruce by the Watchtower is a striking example of how selective citation and misrepresentation of historical sources can lead sincere readers astray. Far from supporting the idea that Jesus was executed on a stake, Lipsius’ scholarship and illustrations affirm the traditional Christian belief that Christ was crucified on a cross.

When evaluating theological claims—especially those that contradict nearly 2,000 years of Christian consensus—it’s essential to examine original sources carefully. In this case, Justus Lipsius should be read directly, not filtered through the lens of Watchtower publications.

Sources:

• Justus Lipsius, De Cruce Libri Tres (1594)

• Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, 1969 Edition, Appendix, p. 1156

• Bruce M. Metzger, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration

• F.F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?