Where did the Jesus fish come from?

[pezwookiee]

Where did the Jesus fish come from? You know the one on the back of cars? And why a fish?

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

IIRC it was an ancient symbol of xtianity in the early days, when they were persecuted heavily. Also something to do with the saying that xtians were “fishers of men”.

When they started sticking it on cars, I’ve no idea. Doubtless polycarp, tomndeb, or some other poster wise in the ways of the church will be by to enlighten.

[black_rabbit]

They evolved from the Cambrian-era Jesus Anaspis.

[Ellen_Cherry]

The fish symbol was used by early Christians so that they could identify one another and their secret places of worship in the Catacombs. The Greek word for fish, IXOYC, I think was chosen with the letters representing Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior.

This is all from memory, so I could be a little off. I’ve always been a little disappointed the symbol was interpreted as meaning funadmentalist by some, and the Darwin “counter symbol” developed. I’ve always thought it was a neat, historical symbol full of rich meaning. Now if I dare display it I’d be branded as a creationist. Which, as a Catholic, couldn’t be further from the truth.

[wolfstu]

For some, the idea of Jesus, and his followers, as Fishers of Men is a powerful symbol.
In the New Testament, Christ is reported as feeding a great crowd of people with only a handful of fishes and a little bread.
As well, considerable attention is given to the way he is said to have called particular men to be his disciples. Some of the famous twelve apostles were fishermen by trade, and Christ is said to have called them to ‘Follow me, and become fishers of men’; meaning that they will gather people to the word of God the way they once gathered fish to the boat.

The fish is also a symbol of poverty; fishermen are generally not wealthy men. In particular, those chosen by Christ as Disciples were not. The fish is a symbol of what provides life and food; For a fisherman, the fish is his livelihood, and nourishment for the body. in the same way, Christ is said to bring eternal life and to nourish the soul.

The image is of Christ as messenger, community-builder and provider, and as figure identifying with the common man.

[mangeorge]

Catholic legend has it that the fish was a secret sign of the entrance to the catacombs, where the christians hid from roman persecution.
Peace,
mangeorge

[Colibri]

Several factors play a role, in particular the trade of several of the apostles, including Peter, as fishermen, and Jesus’ exhortation "I will make you fishers of men. But the main one is a Greek acrostic:

From The Catholic Encyclopedia:

The symbol itself may have been suggested by the miraculous multification of the loaves and fishes or the repast of the seven Disciples, after the Resurrection, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:9), but its popularity among Christians was due principally, it would seem, to the famous acrostic consisting of the initial letters of five Greek words forming the word for fish (Ichthys), which words briefly but clearly described the character of Christ and His claim to the worship of believers: Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter, i.e. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.

[tomndebb]

About month ago we had a discussion on Whats the story behind the Jesus Fish?

I don’t recall when it became popular to stick a chrome-colored fish on cars, but it seems to have been within the last fifteen years. Whether it reflects a social movement or simply fortuitous marketing, I’m not sure.

[CalMeacham]

Jesus Fish on cars strted getting popular over fifteen years ago, but not by much (they were big before my last major move, which is how I know). They spawned a lot of imitators and parodies – the Jesus Fish with "Jesus"inside, rather than theGreek Letters IXThYS, the Darwin Fish with lgs, etc.
My favorite of these is the fish with GHOTI inside. (If you don’t get it, look throgh some old joke books).

[tomndebb]

My favorite of these is the fish with GHOTI inside.

Of course, these probably cause GBS to spin madly in his grave.

[F.U.Shakespeare]

*Originally posted by tomndebb *
**Of course, these probably cause GBS to spin madly in his grave. **

I dunno – I think Shaw would crack a wry smile if there are Christians buying and displaying ‘ghoti’ fish thinking they’re some obscure but legit scriptural translation.

[Tuckerfan]

While I hate to disagree with tomndebb, there is some evidence that the Christians merely borrowed the fish symbol from other faiths. Brace yourselves, folks, I’ve gotta do a long quote here, (note to Mods, the source is public domain, so no copyright worries, it’s from the 1880’s book that I’m transcribing)

“Next to the sacred monogram the Fish takes its place in importance as a sign of Christ in his special office of Saviour.” “In the Talmud the Messiah is called ‘Dag’ or ‘Fish.’” “Where did the Jews learn to apply ‘Dag’ to their Messiah? And why did the primitive Christians adopt it as a sign of Christ?” “I cannot disguise facts. Truth demands no concealment or apology. Paganism has its types and prophecies of Christ as well as Judaism. What then is the Dag-on of the old Babylonians? The fish-god or being that taught them all their civilization.”[sup]1[/sup]

As Mr. Lundy says, “truth demands no concealment or apology,” therefore, when the truth is exposed, we find that Vishnu, the Hindoo Messiah, Preserver, Mediator, and Saviour, was represented as a “dag,” or fish. The Fish takes its place in importance as a sign of Vishnu in his special office of Saviour.

and

The fish was sacred among the Babylonians, Assyrians and Phenicians, as it is among the Romanists of to-day. It was sacred also to Venus, and the Romanists still eat it on the very day of the week which was called “Dies veneris,” Venus’ day; fish day. It was an emblem of fecundity. The most ancient symbol of the productive power was a fish, and it is accordingly found to be the universal symbol upon many of the earliest coins. Pythagoras and his followers did not eat fish. They were ascetics, and the eating of fish was supposed to tend to carnal desires. This ancient superstition is entertained by many even at the present day.

and

But, we may ask why was Buddha not only called Fo, or Po, but Dag-Po, which was literally the Fish PO, or Fish Buddha? The fish did not stand for his name. The idea that Jesus was called a fish because the Messiah is designated “Dag” in the Talmud, is also an unsatisfactory explanation.

(emphasis and obsolete spelling in the original) The chapter then goes on to cite other religions symbols that have been used as Messiah symbols by not only Christianity, but other older religions as well. So, in all likelihood, the early church borrowed the symbol of the fish from other religions, just as the church borrowed some of its holidays and religious figures as well.

[sup]1[/sup] Monumental Christianity, pp. 130, 132, 133.

[Tuckerfan]

Fecal matter! tomndebb, made the comments that inspired this post in the linked thread, not this one, just to clear up any confusion.