Many people see it every day but do not know what it means. It’s the Christian fish symbol. Many postulate that it’s because many of Jesus’ disciples were professional fishermen, but there is an even more interesting theory. It’s an ancient acrostic that hints at a clue.
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The Greek word ichthus means “fish.” Inside the true Christian fish are the letters in Greek for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Saviour.” In Greek/English they can read I-Ch-Th-U-S, for I(ei)sous-Chreistos-Theou-Uios-S(o)t(ei)r.[1] So you can see the connection. It is also said that “the allegorical meaning of this noun [fish] is Christ, because he was able to remain alive -- that is, without sin -- in the abyss of our mortal condition, in the depths, as it were, of the sea.”[2]
The Greek word ichthus means “fish.” Inside the true Christian fish are the letters in Greek for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Saviour.” In Greek/English they can read I-Ch-Th-U-S, for I(ei)sous-Chreistos-Theou-Uios-S(o)t(ei)r.[1] So you can see the connection. It is also said that “the allegorical meaning of this noun [fish] is Christ, because he was able to remain alive -- that is, without sin -- in the abyss of our mortal condition, in the depths, as it were, of the sea.”[2]
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The ancient acrostic referred above was originally written in Latin and runs with each letter of I(ei)sous-Chreistos-Theou-Uios-S(o)t(ei)r covered.
The ancient acrostic referred above was originally written in Latin and runs with each letter of I(ei)sous-Chreistos-Theou-Uios-S(o)t(ei)r covered.
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Augustine had a conversation with an eminent man Flaccianus who revealed to him a Greek manuscript of poems by the Erythraean Sibyl. This was the author of the “I(ei)sous-Chreistos-Theou-Uios-S(o)t(ei)r,” 27-lettered acrostic poem. Mathematically, twenty-seven is the cube of three, meaning one can picture this acrostic poem as a fascinating three-dimensional image.[3] This can be taken to represent the ‘fullness of life’ in Christ.
Augustine had a conversation with an eminent man Flaccianus who revealed to him a Greek manuscript of poems by the Erythraean Sibyl. This was the author of the “I(ei)sous-Chreistos-Theou-Uios-S(o)t(ei)r,” 27-lettered acrostic poem. Mathematically, twenty-seven is the cube of three, meaning one can picture this acrostic poem as a fascinating three-dimensional image.[3] This can be taken to represent the ‘fullness of life’ in Christ.
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Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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[1] The ‘long “E”’ in Greek is phonetically eita, and is pronounced as an “A,” and is represented in parentheses i.e. “(ei)” which also is pronounced “A” in Greek. Also the ‘long “O”’ in Greek is represented by the “O” in parentheses.
[2] Saint Augustine, City of God, (Translated by Henry Bettenson, London, England: Penguin Books, 1467, 1972), p. 789-90.
[3] Saint Augustine, Ibid, p. 789-90.
[1] The ‘long “E”’ in Greek is phonetically eita, and is pronounced as an “A,” and is represented in parentheses i.e. “(ei)” which also is pronounced “A” in Greek. Also the ‘long “O”’ in Greek is represented by the “O” in parentheses.
[2] Saint Augustine, City of God, (Translated by Henry Bettenson, London, England: Penguin Books, 1467, 1972), p. 789-90.
[3] Saint Augustine, Ibid, p. 789-90.
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