About the History of the Christian Fish Symbol
Akili Kumasi says:
In recent years the Christian Fish Symbol can be seen affixed to the back of cars, as key chains and in other very
visible locations as Christians use it to demonstrate to the world that they are believers in the only one true God.
The Origin of the Christian Fish Symbol
The origin of the popular Christian Fish Symbol is believed to have been in the early
years of the church after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Because the church was
growing rapidly it was the target of persecution by both the Romans and the Jews.
One usage of the symbol was as a sort of secret code. When a Christian met someone
they thought was a fellow believer they would scratch the top arch of the symbol in the
ground. If the other person was also a believer in Christ he would complete the fish
symbol by drawing the lower inverted arch.
Another reported use for the Christian Fish Symbol in the early church was as a pointer to secret meetings which
would be scratched on the ground or on a rock.
Sixteenth Century Christians
In later times (around the 16th Century) Christians used the symbol in a more open and declarative fashion. The Greek
word 
was added to the body of the fish. or Ichthusis or Ichthys is the Greek word used
was added to the body of the fish. or Ichthusis or Ichthys is the Greek word used most often in the Bible for the word fish.
Christians used the Greek letters from the word (Iota Chi Theta
Upsilon Sigma) as an acronym to represent “Isesous Christos Theou
Uios Soter” or “Jesus Christ God’s Son, Savior.”
Why Christians Use the Symbol of a Fish?
Christians may have used the fish as a symbol for their faith because of how Jesus used fish in His ministry. Some
of those references include the following: Jesus told Peter and Andrew that He would make them fishers of men
(Mark 1:17). Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17). After Jesus resurrection,
He appeared to His disciples and directed them to a miraculous catch of fish and He cooked a breakfast of fish for
them (John 21:6-9).
Christians Today
Christians today represent the Christian Fish Symbol in various ways including: the Greek letters ??T?S, with a
cross, with JESUS in the body of the fish or just plain without any letters.
Akili Kumasi is the President of GIL Publications (http://www.gilpublications.com) and the author of numerous articles
and books including the Bible Word Search Book Series (puzzles with scripture), Fun Meals for Fathers and Sons:
Recipes & Activities for Bonding & Mentoring and On the Outside Looking in: Hope for Separated Fathers Who Want
To Be Good Fathers. For book-signing or speaking engagements, Akili can be reached at kumasi@gilpublications.com.