How do you think the *Fish* became associated with?

Question

Christianity and Jesus Christ?

Answer 1

As I understand it the fish that we commonly see, the one composed of two curved lines that form the fish shape, was used as a sort of secret sign and counter-sign among early christians to allow them to recognize one another without coming out and saying that they were christian. Additionally, Jesus was refered to as the fisher of men, and the story of the fishes and loaves adds to the use of a fish as a symbol of christianity.

Answer 2

The fish symbol came from the bible story in which Jesus turned loaves of bread into fish and jugs of water into wine, thus able to feed a large group of people.

During the Roman Empire, christians were persecuted for the religious beliefs and were not aloud to practice their religion in public b/c of this persecution. So they devised a 'secret code' that was only known by christians that would identify one christian to another and thus allow them to identify the next meeting - which would occur in someone's house. That 'secret code' was the symbol of the fish. If two individuals were talking and they wanted to know if the other was a christian, the would draw a have circle in the dirt or sand. If the person they were speaking to was a christian then they would draw the other half of the circle in such a way that the two halves made a fish.

Answer 3

Well Marie,there is of course as you know the use of fish to feed the five thousand and the many times that Jesus spoke about making fishers of men,but also there is the fact that `Fish` in greek is `Icthus` and the letters stand for `Jesus Christ Son of God and Savior` and this was used during the persecutions by Christians to identify one another and places of worship.

Answer 4

I found this in Awake! magazine:

What about the symbol of a fish? 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. This is understood by many as a cipher for the Greek expression Iesous CHristos THeou Yios Soter, meaning “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” Is the fish a truly Christian symbol?

According to The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, fish frequently appear in ancient pagan symbolism, often apart from water scenes. “In such cases,” notes this reference work, “it would seem to have symbolic significance, possibly to represent deity, power, fecundity, etc.”

The same publication further notes that certain Jews adopted use of the 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.”

The Bible, however, sets forth no visible symbol for Christianity.

Answer 5

There may be several things that came together on this: Jesus' emphasis on making his disciples "fishers of men," his use of fish in performing miracles.

Also, there is the theory that the Greek word for fish, ICQUS (Ichthys) is an acronym or abbreviation that early Christians used for the expression Ihsous Cristos Qeos Uios Soter = "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior." The New Testament was written in Greek.

Answer 6

The fish became associated with Christianity as a secret code of sorts. "Icthus" is Greek for "fish." During the various persecutions that Christians suffered during the early years of the church, the ichtus was used to identify believers and places of worship.

For example, it was common for people to stop and greet one another along a road. During this conversation, a Christian would draw an arc in the dirt with his sandal or toe. If the other person he was greeting was a Christian, he would draw another arc from his side, with the tail intersecting. This resulted in the fish. If an authority figure were to pass by, they would see a couple of guys with a fish between them, and if he heard the word "ichtus," would likely think they were fishermen.

The Greek letters in the fish symbol you find on cars spell out the word "Ichtus" in the Greek, and each letter means something:

Iota: "Iesous" which means "Jesus"

Chi: "Christos" which means "Christ"

Theta: "Theos" which means "God"

Upsilon: "Uios" which means "Son"

Sigma: "Soter" which means "Savior"

Answer 7

There is a relationship between the Greek letters for Jesus and the Greek letters for fish.

When the Christians were being persecuted by Rome, it was a way to secretly let others know or encourage other Christians.

It may also have to do with the "I will make you fishers of men. . ."

Remember that at least a third of Jesus' inner disciples were fishermen by trade.

Answer 8

first Jesus told the first desciples who wre fisher men he would make the fishers of men. also there are many tales in the bible including fish. when asked to pay tax Jesus sent peter to catch a fish. lastly icthus became a sign for Christians meaning ''Jesus Christ Gods son''

Answer 9

Jesus told the fishermen to follow Him and He will make them fishers of men.

The early church was persecuted, and the symbol of the fish came about to identify with other Christians. One would write a frown in the ground and the other a smile & the fish symbol happened. It is a Christian symbol.

Answer 10

Jesus' birth brought in the Age of Pisces. Fisher's of men-name for disciples
story about feeding fish to people
when two circles are intertwined, the connected area mathematically works out to 157, which is the number of fish the first two disciples pulled in their net in the first parable