I imagine some of it has to do with the development of a “higher” Christology. I don’t think the evidence suggests that Jesus’s immediate followers believed he was resurrected, but that he came to be identified as a divine figure around the 200s. Then, it makes sense to adopt the cross as your symbol - because you are arguing that your guy defied that brutal execution.
I thought it was because of the miracle of the loaves and fish (not christian, through popcultural osmosis I know there was an instance where he … made more fish and bread at a gathering? unsure if this was also the same story where he turned water into wine)
Earlier than that, even. Mark chapter 1 talks about Jesus first setting up his ministry, and in verses 16 and 17 says:
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
This is from the NIV. It’s sometimes translated as “fishers of men”.
A lot of his early disciples were fisherman, so it likely goes back into that.
nice info. Do you know when they started shifting from the fish to the cross?
the fish seems a nicer symbol (food) over the cross (sacrifice) but it is “deeper” to have the sacrifice symbol.
The shift was starting around the time of this image I think - pretty solid bit of iconography by the 300s.
I imagine some of it has to do with the development of a “higher” Christology. I don’t think the evidence suggests that Jesus’s immediate followers believed he was resurrected, but that he came to be identified as a divine figure around the 200s. Then, it makes sense to adopt the cross as your symbol - because you are arguing that your guy defied that brutal execution.
Not when it was about “catching fish” as mentioned in the really early stuff. (swapped for Oysters by Lewis Carroll’s homage)
I thought it was because of the miracle of the loaves and fish (not christian, through popcultural osmosis I know there was an instance where he … made more fish and bread at a gathering? unsure if this was also the same story where he turned water into wine)
It comes from an acrostic - “Ἰησοῦς Χρῑστός Θεοῦ Υἱός Σωτήρ" - means Jesus Christ, God’s son and savior.
ἸΧΘΥΣ is the greek word for fish. I’m sure the story of the loaves and the fish probably did inspire the acrostic.
Earlier than that, even. Mark chapter 1 talks about Jesus first setting up his ministry, and in verses 16 and 17 says:
This is from the NIV. It’s sometimes translated as “fishers of men”.
A lot of his early disciples were fisherman, so it likely goes back into that.