Although you won’t find “Holy Fish” on most lists of the names of Christ, this title has a very significant place in church history. As the second century dawned, the emperor Trajan made the Christian faith outlawed in the Roman Empire, so the faithful were careful not to call attention to themselves. If two people were overheard talking about Jesus Christ, they could be arrested. If an eavesdropper picked up a conversation about a fish, however, the two people would be ignored.
IΧΘYΣ (Ichthys) is the Greek word for “fish” but it is also an acronym for Iesous Christos, Theou Yios, Soter (English translation – Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior).
Iota is the first letter of Iesous (Ιησους), Greek for “Jesus.”
Chi is the first letter of Christos (Χριστóς), Greek for “Christ.”
Theta is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), Greek for “God’s.”
Upsilon is the first letter of Huios (Υἱός), Greek for “Son.”
Sigma is the first letter of Soter (Σωτήρ), Greek for “Savior.”
At a time when to be identified as a Christian meant death, the believer not only needed to know what he believed, but why he believed it. This secret code word not only communicated the object of one’s faith, but also his doctrine.
- Jesus was the personal name of the one they loved and worshiped.
- Christ was God’s chosen one who was exalted over everyone.
- God’s Son made Him equal with God. Crucifying God’s Son is a very serious matter. That is how the centurion that guarded Jesus at the crucifixion saw it.
- Savior is the only one who can save the sinner from the bondage of sin.
Centuries have come and gone since Christ’s early followers talked in soft whispers of the “Holy Fish,” yet pictures of fish can still be seen carved in stone in the walls of ancient churches and in the Roman catacombs. Bumper stickers of a stylized fish <>< are also sometimes seen in circulation today and with them the memory of “Ichthys,” the Holy Fish.
April 17
