Why do Christian use a FISH to symballize that they are a christian?

Question

Someone said that its because most of Jesus' deciple were fishermen. Is that true?

Answer 1

It was an early symbol used by Christians to secretly identify themselves to one another during times of persecution.
The Greek word for fish is ichthus.
It is represented by 5 Greek letters which are an anagram standing for "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior".

Answer 2

When Christians were persecuted during the time of Jesus, he had his followers mark their houses with the Greek letter alpha. That letter looks like a fish and became a symbol of Christianity, and is colloquially referred to as "The Jesus Fish."

At least that's what someone told me...

Answer 3

Jesus was the fisherman of men, but the fish is a symbol that predates Christianity. It may be interesting to know that we now leave the era of fish (Pisces) that covers the biblical times till now into a new astrological era of Aquarius. The symbol of the new religion should be a bucket of water or waves...

Answer 4

It has to do with the Greek word for fish. Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma), is the Ancient and Classical Greek word for "fish." In English it refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish, said to have been used by early Christians as a secret symbol and now known colloquially as the "Jesus fish." Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an acronym or backronym of "Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Saviour (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ)."

Answer 5

When threatened by Romans in the first centuries after Christ, Christians used the fish mark meeting places and tombs, or to distinguish friends from foes. According to one ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company.

Greeks, Romans, and many other pagans used the fish symbol before Christians. Hence the fish, unlike, say, the cross, attracted little suspicion, making it a perfect secret symbol for persecuted believers. So the early Christians made practical use of this symbol for practical convenience. It is somewhat similar to the use in our days of bumper-sticker and business-card practice to be recognised by strangers, although we are not yet under persecution.

Answer 6

The constellation age that came at the time of Jesus was Pisces, which is fishes. He also told the apostles to be "fishers of men".

The Greek letters spelling the greek word for "fish" was also used by early Christians as Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an acronym of "Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Saviour (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ)."

This is has regained in popularity as the "Jesus Fish" in modern times. It is a nice alternative to the cross as a symbol for Christians and keeps in mind our need to witness to others and shows that it is a living Church. Just because the use of the fish as a symbol in other ancient cultures does not mean that the Christians cannot make it mean what they want to. Symbols are only meaningful to those who place the meaning on them.and what it means to them.

Answer 7

Christians use a lot of symbolism,a fish a dove the keys to the gates to heaven.I most cases you will find that symbolism not just those mentioned but many others find their routes in paganism.Christians just used recognisable symbols to make it (A) easier to explain and (B) easier to convert.

Answer 8

Christianity is not the only religion adopting the fish as a symbol.

Why do Buddhist monks beat a wooden fish?

Answer 9

It came from when Jesus multiplied the fish and loaves of bread to feed over 5000


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Answer 10

LOL. No honey. The greek word for fish (ancient greek) is ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ιxthis) which stands for ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Jesus) ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Christ) ΘΕΟΥ (God's) ΥΙΟΣ (Son) ΣΩΤΗΡΑΣ (Saviour). Back then when christians were being persecuted they used the sign of the fish to recognize each other. One would make a semi circle, and if the other was a christian, he would complete it with another semi circle to produce a rough image of a fish.