what is the meaning of the fish symbol in Christianity?

Answer 1

It's called the ichthys:

It is believed that societies of Christians in the early Roman Empire, prior to the Edict of Milan, protected their congregations by keeping their meetings secret. In order to point the way to ever-changing meeting places, they developed a symbol which adherents would readily recognize, and which they could scratch on rocks, walls and the like, in advance of a meeting. Another story suggests that the ichthys was used as a sort of secret handshake: one person would draw with a staff a single curve, (half of the ichthys) in the sand, and another person could confirm their identity as a Christian by completing the symbol. Alternatively, one would draw the symbol, and another person would confirm their faith by drawing an eye on it.

Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an acronym, which is a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name. It compiles to "Jesus Christ God's Son is Saviour" or "Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour", in ancient Greek "Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ"

I is the first letter of the word Jesus in Greek: Ιησούς
CH are the first letters (in Greek one letter) of the word Christos (Χριστóς), Greek for Christ
TH are the first letters (in Greek one letter) of the word THeou (Θεoύ), genetive case of Θεóς, Greek for God
Y is the first letter for Yios (῾Υιóς), Greek for son. (the "῾" (the is called a rough breathing mark) here is a part of the vowel, and is not included in ICHTHUS)
S is the first letter for Soter (Σωτήρ), Greek for saviour.
There are several other hypotheses as to why the fish was chosen. Some sources indicate that the earliest literary references came from the recommendation of Clement of Alexandria to his readers (Paedagogus, III, xi) to engrave their seals with the dove or fish. However, it can be inferred from Roman monumental sources such as the Capella Greca and the Sacrament Chapels of the catacomb of St. Callistus that the fish symbol was known to Christians much earlier. This Christian symbol might well have been intended to oppose or protest the pagan apotheosis of the Roman emperor during the reign of Domitian (AD 81 - AD 96). Coins found in Alexandria referred to him as Theou Yios (Son of God). In fact, even earlier, since the death and deification of Julius Caesar, Augustus (Octavian) already styled himself as divi filius, son of the divine (Julius), and struck coins to that effect. This practice was also carried on by some of the later emperors. Another probable explanation is that it is a reference to the scripture in which Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 people with fish and bread (Mark 6:30-44,Matthew 14:15-21, Luke 9:12-17, and John 6:4-13). The ichthys may also relate to Jesus or his disciples as "fishers of men" (e.g., Mark 1:17). Tertullian, in his treatise On Baptism, makes a pun on the word, writing that "we, little fishes, after the example of our Icqus [ΙΧΘΥΣ] Jesus Christ, are born in water" (§1).

Some theories about the Historicity of Jesus suggest that Christianity adopted certain beliefs and practices as a syncretism of certain mystery religions such as Mithraism, and that this may be the origin of the icthys in Christian circles. However, this theory is controversial and scholars are split on the probability (or even possibility) of such influence.[1] A minority posit that the Babylonian myth of Ichthys, or other similar pagan myths, were adopted by Christianity, and with them the icthus sign.

In Greek it is sometimes speculated that the fish symbol actually comes from the interpretation of the word ichthys as an acronym: ΙΧΘΥΣ - "Ἰησοὺς Χριστὸς Θεoὺ ῾Υιὸς Σωτήρ" (Iēsous Christos Theou Huios Sōtēr), meaning "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior". This is probably a backronym. A slight variation of the Greek translation of the above was mentioned in [2] a bestselling novel by Irving Wallace, as follows. "To His pioneer disciples, the Messiah was known as 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour', which, translated into Greek, the language used by Roman occupation forces, was Iesous Christos, Theou, Uios, Soter. The initials of those five Greek words spells I-CH-TH-U-S, the word for fish in Greek."

Answer 2

Multiple things. The fish Symbol was around in early christianity. It was created as a 'secret' symbol of Christianity during a time in which christians were persecuted based upon their religion alone. Therefore they worshiped in secret.... The fish was used in a multitude of ways. My favorite one is this: since they had to worship in secret, they often worshiped in secret places. What they would do is use this fish symbol as an 'arrow' to point to where the worship was taking place. The funny thing is.... instead of the using the head to represent the pointing of an arrow, they used the tail. Therefore, when the romans figured out that the fish represented arrows pointing towards a worship service, they follow the head of the fish (which lead them in the wrong direction). A christian was also able to recognize another christian by using this symbol. The fish symbol is nothing more than two arches connected together. Therefore, if you wanted to know if a stranger was a christian you would take your foot and draw an arc in the sand/dirt. If the stranger was a christian he would draw a second arc, completing the fish symbol.

Answer 3

Many people feel that the fish is the symbol of Christianity. Some even feel it was used so that Christians under persecution could identify each other.

Interestingly enough, Jesus himself gave an identifying mark of Christians: it is recorded at John 13:35. Moreover, according to Christ, not only would Christians be able to identify each other by this identifying mark, but ALL would know they were disciples of Christ.

Given the understanding of Christians that persecution would most assuredly come upon them, given their understanding of the reasons it would come upon them, and given the courage and endurance with which they met that persecution, it seems highly unlikely that they would have resorted to cloak and dagger routines to hide what they were. For instance, if we consider the prayer recorded at Acts 4:23-31, it is not reasonable to believe they were hiding their Christianity behind symbols.

Furthermore, if we look at the account of Paul recorded at Acts 26:4-14, Paul witnessed boldly before the Roman authorities.

Clearly, the first-century Christians were not afraid of the Romans and clearly, they manifested the identification Christ described. They needed no fish to symbolize their faith. They lived their faith for all to see.

As for the meaning of the fish, some objects dated as far back as the second century C.E. have been found bearing this figure along with the Greek word for fish, ICHTHÝS. Lots of folks understand this as a cipher for the Greek expression Iesous CHristos THeou Yios Soter, or “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, reports that fish oftentimes show up in ancient pagan symbolism, and not in water scenes. The reference work goes on to report that “it would seem to have symbolic significance, possibly to represent deity, power, fecundity, etc.”

This publication continues, noting that certain Jews adopted the use of this fish symbol from pagan religious customs, adding: “It is probable that the considerations mentioned [in this regard] account in part for the appearance of the fish in the art of the oldest Christian catacombs. How early the Greek word for ‘fish’ (ichthýs) came to be interpreted as a cipher for ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior’ . . . we do not know; but once this identification was made, the fish became a standard Christian symbol.”

It is noteworthy that God's word the Bible gives no visible symbol for Christianity. It gives only the identifying mark quoted above in John.

Hannah

Answer 4

The "icthus," as folks have mentioned, was used by early Christians to identify one another.

During the time of the persecuted church, when one could be fed to the lions for being a Christian - they would draw a half circle in the sand, or dirt. Then they'd wait. Other Christians would come along and draw the other half, creating the fish.

Answer 5

I don't know why exactly they use a fish, maybe because of all the fish references when you talk about Jesus' times, but in the early days of Christianity there was great persecution by the Roman empire, and if they so much as caught you talking about it they could kill you. So people would draw the first half of the fish in the sand with their foot. If the other person completed it, it was safe to talk. If not, they knew not to mention Jesus.

Answer 6

A long time ago I think it would be early 1st century, because christian were persucuted. people use have that fish symbol known as Jesusfish and by showing this symbol to other christians it was saying that they are a christian.


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Answer 7

It's a reference to Christ's invitation for the apostles to be "fishers of men."

Also, when the early Christians were being persecuted (you know, fed to lions and whatnot), to protect themselves they were a bit more secretive about their faith. If they met a new person they would often draw one curve in the dirt with their foot. If the other person drew the other curve to make the fish shape, they would both know they were Christians, and could safely talk about their religion.

Answer 8

Secret code for persecuted church. A Christian would write a frown in the ground. Another Christian would write a smile in the ground. Then it would become a fish. Representing being a Christian fisher of men.

Answer 9

It was an early symbol of Chistianity. Where it came from was a visual pun. If you spell Jesus, in greek using greek letters, it looks similar to a fish.

Answer 10

It symbolizes the fact that Jesus pulled his first disciples away from fishing for food and told them he would make them fishers of men's souls.

Answer 11

when the Christians were persecuted in Herod's time, they used the symbol of a fish in order to recognise each other - it is said to come from the fact that many of Jesus' disciples were fishermen