He received a BA from Maryville College in 1942 and a BD from McCormick Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the Nettie F. McCormick Fellowship in Old Testament Studies, in 1946. Cross went on to study under William F. Albright, the founding father of biblical archaeology, at Johns Hopkins University, where he received a PhD in 1950.
Cross graduated from Maryville College with a BA in 1942 and received a BD from McCormick Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the Nettie F. McCormick Fellowship for Old Testament studies in 1946. He then continued his education at Johns Hopkins University under William F. Albright, a leading figure in biblical archaeology, earning his PhD in 1950.