The fish symbol is seen on bumper sticker, business cards, hats T-shirts, and so on. To many people it has almost become as much a symbol of Christianity as the cross. Sometimes, as in our background, it contains several Greek letters.

What does the fish symbol mean? What are the Greek letters and what do they mean?
The fish symbol is called ICHTHUS, pronounced: ikh-thoos, and means fish in Greek. The Greek letters contained in the symbol spell the word ICHTHUS in Greek. The five Greek letters are: Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, Sigma. To the early Christians these letters stood for five words confessing our "Lord, Jesus Christ God's Son Savior". While some believe the Greek letters stand for the English word JESUS such is not the case.

It is not known when the fish symbol was first used to refer to Jesus Christ as God's Son and our Savior but it was well establish by the last half of the second century. By this time the fish symbol was appearing on sarcophagi, rings, seals, and catacombs used by Christians. The first written reference regarding the fish and its letters was in 180 a.d.

Why a fish with letters?
Around 200 a.d. Quintus Tertullian wrote a short thesis on baptism for those who were preparing for baptism at the local church gathering place. He made this observation, "We as little fishes, in accordance with our ICHTHUS Jesus Christ, are born in water." Tertullian is saying the fish symbol is a confession of Christ and our new birth in Christ. The fish symbol, then, is a confession of Christ. It also means those who confess Christ understand the new birth, being born again, takes place when they are immersed in the water of baptism. The early Christians understood they were not saved or born again till after they were immersed in water. In fact in those early days the Latin writers call the baptistery a Piscina, which means fish pond in Latin.

Interesting Observation
Most who wear or use the ICHTHUS do not believe baptism in water is necessary for remission of sins. Yet, they proudly display the very symbol confessing the necessity of water before one can be saved, before one can be born again.

Read and Reflect
Leon E. Cathey