Jesus Fish

Many people wear the Jesus fish or stick it on their car but have little knowledge of why it was used to identify Christians in the early years of Christianity. So... I thought I would make a little post to explain it. :)

Ichthys (also transliterated Ichthus, Icthus, Ikhthus, etc), is the Greek word for "fish". It refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, used by the early Christians as a secret symbol and now known colloquially as the Jesus fish.

ΙΧΘΥΣ = ICHTHYS = FISH
Ιχθυς = Ichthys = Fish

Acronym for the greek word “fish”.

Iesous = Jesus
Christos = Christ
Theos = Of God
Yios = Son
Soter = Savior

Ι = Iota = I
Χ = Chi = ch or c
Θ = Theta = th
Υ = Upsilon = u or y
Σ = Sigma = s

Ichthus

In the years following the ascension of the resurrected Jesus to heaven, the Christian church grew rapidly. Christians soon found themselves to be the subjects of persecution by both the Romans and the Jews. In many locales, it became dangerous to be known as a Christian. Thus, when two strangers met and thought maybe they were fellow believers, one of them would draw, on the ground, the upper half of the fish symbol.

Recognizing the symbol, the stranger would add a second curved line and complete the drawing of a fish.

It is a very simple shape to draw - just two curved strokes. It could be drawn quickly, and erased just as quickly if there was no sign of recognition on the part of the stranger.

So there you have it... the Jesus fish.

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- footprints of Chad, 8:02 AM