2007-09-07 12:48:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Icthus-"fish" in Greek- stands for Jesus Christ Son of God Savior in Greek. The Fish Sign was a Christian secret code and identifier during the Roman Persecutions
2007-09-07 12:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by James O 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some Christians believe that a link between their religion and the fish symbol is seen in the Greek word for fish (ichthus, spelled: Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma). That is an acrostic for "Jesus Christ, of God, the Son, the Savior" [Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ) THeou (of God) Uiou (the Son) Soter (the Savior)]. An acrostic is an "arrangement of words in which the first letter of each line ordinarily combines with others to form a word or words or the alphabet." (1)
The Apostles were often referred to as "fishers of men". Followers of Christianity were called Pisciculi; the root of this Latin word is "fish". The symbols of "sacremental fish, with wine and a basket of bread represents the Eucharist and the Last Supper in Christian art." (2). The symbol was simple to draw and was often used among Christians as a type of password during times of persecution by the Roman government. If two strangers met and were unsure whether each other was a Christian, one would draw an arc in the earth like:). If the other were a Christian, they would complete the symbol with a reverse arc: (), forming the outline of a fish.
2007-09-07 20:01:16 · answer #2 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Greek, the word "fish" is an acronym for Jesus, Christ, God, Son, and Savior. Over time the fish has become a symbol for Christianity, but it is clearly a statement of Christian belief.
2007-09-07 19:52:18 · answer #3 · answered by seminary bum 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Greek word for "fish" is an acronym for the Greek phrase Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour. Early Christians used it as a secret sign.
2007-09-07 19:54:49 · answer #4 · answered by Voyager 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a Christian sign used in the first century church to identify Christians secretly to avoid persecution during the Roman period of persecution. Its called an Ichthys which is Greek for fish and the word in Greek is Iota, chi, theta, upsilon, sigma. Each letter stands for a word in Greek which translated would say Jesus Christ God (or Son of God) and Savior.
2007-09-07 19:55:25 · answer #5 · answered by William D 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus the Christ was walking by the sea of galilee, saw 2-brothers, Simon called Peter, & Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then he said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." they immediately left their nets & followed him. Going on from there, He saw 2-other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, & John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, & immediately they left the boat & their father, & followed Him.(Matt. 4: 18- 22) Those 4-fishermen were called as disciples of Jesus the Christ.
2007-09-07 20:18:49 · answer #6 · answered by NISSI 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it represents Jesus's miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes to feed the multitudes.
i've also heard it represents Christians as *fishers* of men, like the first apostles.
2007-09-07 19:51:27 · answer #7 · answered by chieko 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's a Christian symbol.
back when you could be killed for believing in Christ, Christians used this symbol to identify each other. it was used as a secret code.
Today it is used for Christians 'fishermen of men'
2007-09-07 19:54:30 · answer #8 · answered by the shiz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a symbol for born again christians.
2007-09-07 19:52:31 · answer #9 · answered by x2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ancient pagan symbol for fertility. It is supposed to represent the female reproductive organs. If you don't believ look it up.
2007-09-07 19:53:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋