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Ichthys
The ichthys or ichthus (/ˈɪkθəs/), from the Koine Greek ichthýs (ἰχθύς, 1st cent. AD Koinē Greek pronunciation: [ikʰˈtʰys], "fish") is, in its modern rendition, a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish. It has been speculated that the symbol was adopted by early Christians as a secret symbol; a shibboleth to determine if another was indeed Christian. It is now known colloquially as the "Jesus fish". This symbol is widely used by Christians as a sign of their Christian faith, often being found on vehicles, necklaces and laptop stickers.
The first appearances of the ichthys in Christian art and literature dates to the 2nd century. The symbol's use among Christians had become popular by the late 2nd century, and its use spread widely in the 3rd and 4th centuries. In early Christian history, the ichthys symbol held "the most sacred significance." It has been claimed that Christians used it to recognize churches and other believers during a time when they faced persecution in the Roman Empire. Augustine, a Church Father, stated that a fish symbolized Jesus well, writing that “he was able to live . . . without sin in the abyss of this mortality as in the depth of waters.” Additionally, the ichthys symbol references the dominical sacraments of Baptism and Communion. With respect to baptism, Tertullian, an early Church Father, "taught that just as water sustains fish, 'We, little fishes, after the image of our Ichthys, Jesus Christ, are born in the water'." For the "Holy Eucharist, with which the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes had such intimate connection both in point of time and significance." Depicted in the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian and of the Catacomb of Priscilla, the symbol is also mentioned in the Latin text titled Oracula Sibillina which dates back to the 1st-2nd century.
ἸΧΘΥΣ (IKhThUS), or also ἸΧΘΥϹ with a lunate sigma, is an acronym or acrostic for "Ἰησοῦς Χρῑστός Θεοῦ Υἱός Σωτήρ", Iēsoûs Khrīstós, Theoû Huiós, Sōtḗr; contemporary Koine, which translates into English as 'Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior'.
Augustine quotes an ancient text from the Sibylline oracles whose verses are an acrostic of the generating sentence.
A fourth century adaptation of ichthys superimposes the Greek letters ἸΧΘΥϹ on top of each other to render a shape akin to an eight-spoked wheel. Though this shape has often been interpreted as such, it has also been proposed that the round symbol represents a loaf of bread.
Fish are mentioned and given symbolic meaning several times in the Gospels. Several of Jesus' 12 Apostles were fishermen. He commissions them with the words "I will make you fishers of men". (Mark 1: 16–18)
Having been resurrected, Jesus was given grilled fish in Luke 24:41–43.
At the feeding of the five thousand, a boy is brought to Jesus with "five small loaves and two fish". The question is asked, "But what are they, among so many?" Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish to feed the multitude.
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Ichthys
The ichthys or ichthus (/ˈɪkθəs/), from the Koine Greek ichthýs (ἰχθύς, 1st cent. AD Koinē Greek pronunciation: [ikʰˈtʰys], "fish") is, in its modern rendition, a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish. It has been speculated that the symbol was adopted by early Christians as a secret symbol; a shibboleth to determine if another was indeed Christian. It is now known colloquially as the "Jesus fish". This symbol is widely used by Christians as a sign of their Christian faith, often being found on vehicles, necklaces and laptop stickers.
The first appearances of the ichthys in Christian art and literature dates to the 2nd century. The symbol's use among Christians had become popular by the late 2nd century, and its use spread widely in the 3rd and 4th centuries. In early Christian history, the ichthys symbol held "the most sacred significance." It has been claimed that Christians used it to recognize churches and other believers during a time when they faced persecution in the Roman Empire. Augustine, a Church Father, stated that a fish symbolized Jesus well, writing that “he was able to live . . . without sin in the abyss of this mortality as in the depth of waters.” Additionally, the ichthys symbol references the dominical sacraments of Baptism and Communion. With respect to baptism, Tertullian, an early Church Father, "taught that just as water sustains fish, 'We, little fishes, after the image of our Ichthys, Jesus Christ, are born in the water'." For the "Holy Eucharist, with which the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes had such intimate connection both in point of time and significance." Depicted in the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian and of the Catacomb of Priscilla, the symbol is also mentioned in the Latin text titled Oracula Sibillina which dates back to the 1st-2nd century.
ἸΧΘΥΣ (IKhThUS), or also ἸΧΘΥϹ with a lunate sigma, is an acronym or acrostic for "Ἰησοῦς Χρῑστός Θεοῦ Υἱός Σωτήρ", Iēsoûs Khrīstós, Theoû Huiós, Sōtḗr; contemporary Koine, which translates into English as 'Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior'.
Augustine quotes an ancient text from the Sibylline oracles whose verses are an acrostic of the generating sentence.
A fourth century adaptation of ichthys superimposes the Greek letters ἸΧΘΥϹ on top of each other to render a shape akin to an eight-spoked wheel. Though this shape has often been interpreted as such, it has also been proposed that the round symbol represents a loaf of bread.
Fish are mentioned and given symbolic meaning several times in the Gospels. Several of Jesus' 12 Apostles were fishermen. He commissions them with the words "I will make you fishers of men". (Mark 1: 16–18)
Having been resurrected, Jesus was given grilled fish in Luke 24:41–43.
At the feeding of the five thousand, a boy is brought to Jesus with "five small loaves and two fish". The question is asked, "But what are they, among so many?" Jesus multiplies the loaves and fish to feed the multitude.
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