what does the fish-thing symbolize?

[marli]

I wasn't sure exactly where to ask this question: What does the fish-thing represent? I've seen them pretty much everywhere -- on t-shirts, cars, and websites, but I never got around to asking.

 

[Rafael]

Jesus told Peter and the disciples that He would make them fishers of men, but I think that is only part of it's meaning.

 

[CeCe]

It was also used during times of Christian persecution. Here's a link that may be helpful.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/features/ask/2001/oct26.html

 

[Tier]

Ok, basically when Christians were persecuted, when you were talking to somone you would draw the fish symbol in the dirt with your foot, and if they did the same thing you would know they were a Christian as well. If they didn't, well, they wouldn't notice anything but a few lines in the sand.

 

[katylees]

thats very interesting actually, i never knew that either!

 

[Vijaykyu]

Actually, the first letters in the phrase"Jesus Christ Son of God Savior" in Greek, spell out the word fish.
In Christ
Vincent

 

[katylees]

cool

 

[Radagast]

The fish is perhaps the world's oldest acronym.

ICHTHUS, the Greek word for fish, was adopted by the early Christian Church as an acronym for the phrase Iesus Christos Theou Uios Soter: Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour.

This phrase summarises the essentials of the Christian Faith, and the stylised outline of the fish has been used as a symbol of Christianity for almost two thousand years.

-- Radagast