How Did a Fish Become a Symbol of Christianity?
There are various claims that point to the origin of the fish as a symbol of Christianity. Like many other religious symbols, though, it is debatable just when and where the "Jesus Fish" actually developed. The three most common explanations point to the fish as a means of communicating secretly with other Christians, a meaningful acrostic using a Greek word and its many appearances in biblical stories.
Other People Are Reading
-
Communication
-
In places where Christians were (and are) persecuted or oppressed, by other religious or political groups, the fish served as an inconspicuous symbol by which to communicate. Upon meeting, one person drew one curved line, or half of the fish. If also a Christian, the second person drew the second line to complete the symbol, subtly proving his affinity. Because the fish has been recognized as a symbol of other various affiliations, this practice was not a "give-away" such as drawing a cross, which is the most widely known and accepted symbol of Christianity.
Word Play
-
Theologans recognize the connection between the Greek word for fish (ichthys) and the acrostic its letters form. The acrostic, also a Greek term, refers to a message in which each letter of a phrase spells another word. Ichthys is composed of the Greek letters Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon and Sigma. These letters suggest the following acrostic: Iesous Christos, Theou Yios, Soter. When translated into English, it spells: Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour. In this case, "fish" literally means "Jesus."
-
Biblical References
-
The Bible makes numerous references to both fish and water, suggesting that the fish's significance as a Christian symbol was both obvious and inevitable. Fish live in water, which is used in baptisms, which cleanse the spirit. Holy water is also used to bless people and places. In Mark 1:17, Jesus refers to His disciples as "fishers of men." According to the story of The First Miracle, Jesus feeds 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.
Today's Fish
-
The Christian Fish, or Jesus Fish, or Ichthys, is still an accepted symbol of Christianity. In western civilization it is prevalent rather than subtle, made popular recently as a bumper sticker. It is also seen on church signs, on various Christian novelty items and tattoos. Religious adversaries have designed amended versions of the classic symbol, one of which features a pair of legs and is known as the "Darwin Fish."
-
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
