Christian fish symbol
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Origin of the Christian Fish Symbol
An article on athiests.org attempts to degrade Christianity by showing that the origin of the fish symbol is pagan. (read the athiests.org article) For many Christians, the fish decal on the back car bumper, or attached to a key chain or door is a symbol of our Christianity. The actual start of usage by Christians is under debate, but here are some statements agreed to by both athiests and Christians:- Early Christians were persecuted for their beliefs, but wanted to be able to talk about them with others, they used the fish as a recognition sign of their religion. One would draw an arc in the dirt, another would draw another arc, the two together would form a fish, as
- The Oxford English Dictionary defines "Ichthyic" as "of, pertaining to, or characteristic of fishes; the fish world in all its orders".
- The greek word Ichthus (Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma), pronounced ich-thoos, upper case:
and lower case: 
, is the word used throughout the New Testament for the english word fish.
- The letters Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma are an acronym for "Iesous Christos Theou Uios, Soter", which translated into english is "Jesus Christ God's Son, Savior".
- In pagan beliefs, Ichthys was the offspring of the ancient Sea goddess Atargatis, and was known in varios mythic systems as Tirgata, Aphrodite, Pelagia, or Delphine. The word also meant "womb" and "dolphin" in some tongues, and representations of this appeared in the depiction of mermaids. The fish is also a central element in other stories, including the Goddess of Ephesus, as well as the tale of the fish that swallowed part of Osiris, and was also considered a symbol of the sexuality of Isis. So, in pagan beliefs, the fish is a symbol of birth and fertility.
- In certain non-Christian beliefs the fish also has been identified with reincarnation and the life force. Sir James George Frazer noted in his work, "Adonis, Attis, Osiris: Studies in the History of Oriental Religion" (Part Four of his larger work, "The Golden Bough") that among one group in India, the fish was believed to house a deceased soul, and that as part of a fertility ritual specific fish is eaten in the belief that it will be reincarnated in a newborn child.
- Before Christianity adopted the fish symbol, it was known by pagans as "the Great Mother", and "womb". Its link to fertility, birth, and the natural force of women was acknowledged also by the Celts, as well as pagan cultures throughout northern Europe.
- Throughout the New Testament there are stories related to fishing and feeding crowds with fish. Jesus talks of making disciples "fishers of men". It is written in the Bible, in Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus calls two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, to leave their fishing and become "fishers of men". It is written in the Bible, in Matthew 14:15-21 Jesus feeds 5000 men, plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish.
- In the old testment there is a story about a prophet who is sent by God to tell a nation to repent of their evil ways and turn to God. This prophet does not like this nation, as they have persecuted his people in the past, so he decides to get as far away from this nation as he can. As he is travelling by boat to escape his call, a storm arises and when the crew on the boat find out that he has been called by God and is going the opposite way, they throw Jonah into the sea. He is swallowed by a large fish, and three days later spit out on land, back where he started. He then goes to Ninevah and tells them to repent and they do and God spares them. Later this nation returns to it's evil ways and God destroys it.
- It is written in the New Testament, in Mathew 12:38-40, that the only sign Jesus would give would be the sign of Jonah, to be swallowed up for three days, then to return and tell people to repent. If they repent they will be spared by God.
- It is written in the Bible, that Jesus did not come for the righteous but for the un-righteous, one scripture is in Mathew 9:12-13, "It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
- It is written in the Bible that Jesus repeatedly changed evil into good. Some scriptures: In Matthew 8:1-4 a leper is healed. In Matthew 9:1-8 a paralytic healed. In Matthew 9:9, Matthew (a corrupt tax collector) is called to folow Jesus. In Matthew 9:20-22 a bleeding woman is healed. In Mark 1:24-26, Jesus causes an evil spirit to leave a man.
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My conclusions
Please draw your own conclusions, these are mine:- The fish symbol was and is used by pagans as a symbol of birth and re-birth.
- Christians use the fish symbol as a reminder that Jesus Christ was born and is re-born, and that we as Christians are born and re-born. Romans 6:3-4 All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We [our sins, our old sinful life] were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
- Jesus Christ showed Christians how to turn evil things into good things.
- Knowing that the fish symbol was and is used by pagans, reminds me to keep my symbols in perspective. What does the fish mean to me when I see it? Is it the fish that has the meaning or my understanding of it? What does the cross represent to me? A symbol is just a symbol, but it can be a good reminder of just how great our God is.
- Today, the fish symbol is used to identify Christians, just as it was centuries ago, and I for one, am glad to see more and more of them on car bumbers and key-chains.
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This page and it's author
Andy Hughes is a Christian living in Silverton Oregon, he attends Silverton Friends Church. This web page is not maintained by a church or evangelistic organization. If you would like more information about Christ, we urge you to contact a local church or an organization such as Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship or Campus Crusade for Christ.About the Christian fish symbol
About tolerance
The differences between beliefs and religions
What if I've chosen the wrong religion?
Christianity and Abortion
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