The FISH was probably the favorite early Christian symbol

Posted by Bible Probe on December 18, 2005 at 17:13:21:

In Reply to: Mel Gibson is right. The cross is: "+" and not a "T" posted by Bible Probe on December 18, 2005 at 17:08:16:

THE FISH

The fish was perhaps the favorite Christian symbol.

The biblical and pagan cultural background was again important in the development of the symbol.

The New Testament abounds with references to fish. We recall Christ telling his disciples he will make them fishers of men. [Gospel of Matthew, Ch.4 ver.19] The fish therefore became the symbol of the Christian. He was saved in the net of the gospel news preached by the fishermen apostles.

The most important point regarding the symbol of the fish is that in Greek the word fish was written as "ICHTHYS".

The word "fish" was not a secret code, but It was most likely used by Christians in perilous times to recognize one another. Rather the Greek word for "fish" formed an acrostic, which was a typical classical style of poetry by which the letters of a word were ordered to form a phrase, or vice versa. In this case we can vertically read the greek word for fish:

Iesus

CHristos

THeou

Yios

Soter

Each letter in the word fish formed a word. The meaning of each greek word formed by the letters ICHTHYS are:

Iesus = Jesus

CHristos = Christ

THeou = of God

Yios = Son

Soter = Saviour

Some Inscriptions found in the Catacombs (remember: Catholic Christians):

Remember when reading these inscriptions the story the skeletons tell of persecution, of torture, and of fire.

Some Christian inscriptions in the Catacombs

"Here lies Marcia, put to rest in a dream of peace."

"Lawrence to his sweetest son, borne away of angels."

"Victorious in peace and in Christ."

"Being called away, he went in peace."

Versus Pagan Inscriptions

The full force of the above epitaphs is seen when we contrast them with the pagan epitaphs, such as:

"Live for the present hour, since we are sure of nothing else."

"I lift my hands against the gods who took me away at the age of twenty though I had done no harm."

"Once I was not. Now I am not. I know nothing about it, and it is no concern of mine."

"Traveller, curse me not as you pass, for I am in darkness and cannot answer."

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