The Origins of the Jesus Fish

This video includes a paid sponsorship from The Great Courses Plus.

Bibliography:
Guy Stroumsa, "The Early Christian Fish Symbol Reconsidered," 199-205 in Messiah and Christos: Studies in the Jewish Origins of Christianity, Tubingen: Mohr, 1992.

Tuomas Rasimus, "Revisiting the Ichthys: A Suggestion Concerning the Origins of Christological Fish Symbolism

Laurence Harold Kant, "The Interpretation of Religious Symbols in the Graeco-Roman World: A Case Study of Early Christian Fish Symbolism," PhD Dissertation, Yale University, 1993.

MOREY, CHARLES R, "The Origin of the Fish Symbol," American journal of archaeology, 1909-01-01, Vol.13, p.57

[PBAmygdala]

Since the fish logo stuck around for so long, I guess you could say it was pretty catchy...

[november]

When I was a kid I asked my mom why Christians put fish stickers on their cars and she told me that it was because Jesus multiplied the fish. Never thought about it after that, wouldn't have guessed it was so old. Groovy.

[Gabriel-ekgd]

Imagine not knowing about this whole jesus thing and just seeing "fish" written in random places. You'd be so confused

[natelogos]

I love how in all of your videos you successfully appear impartial, just looking at where the evidence leads without making value judgments. That's a rare thing in the world today. Keep it up.

[Agaettis]

I just always thought it was because he multiplied fish for people 😂

[angela_merkeI]

I dunno, with all these fish depictions and comparison I think the ancient authors wanted to say that Jesus was not human, but a literal walking, talking, preaching fish, probably a carp(enter). I'm gonna write the history channel to have them investigate this further.

[indyxpbullion]

So this is the early version of Kilroy...
Fish graffiti = “Jesus was here” 😂

[cuckoophendula]

I remember having this phase in high school when I became a massive Carl Jung nerd and read about how he referred to the Christian era the "age of Pisces" (coinciding the astrological solstices with each approximate 2000+ year period). He also talked about his account of supposed "synchronicities" when he kept being faced with the fish symbol one day, which inspired him to put a lot of his life's work on that symbol thereafter. Amusingly, this was before I heard anything about a "Jesus fish, " and it totally blew my mind when I encountered one separately.

[danielpaulson]

It's so nice to get information, without another version of a sermon. Thank you.

[redapol]

I love that these explanations are based on actual historical evidence which can be analysed and verified rather than just relying on tradition and trusting that tradition just because we’re told to

[thedebatehitman]

Yay! I have something to keep me entertained during my lunch break.

[matthewreynolds]

I was so glad to hear the honorable mention of the zodiac theory! These videos are hard not to binge. I've been on a bit of a spiritual journey, and this down to earth presentation style is SO good

[collinwadham]

"I will make you a Fisher of men."

[stevencahn]

I have been bingeing this channel for a couple of days now and it is fascinating. I am getting all the answers for questions I asked when I was a Christian but was told then "the Bible says so", "God says so", "I say so" or the mother of all answers to shutdown my questions, "God works in mysterious ways and it is not for you to question them.

[riverstone]

It is fascinating how the eight-spoked wheel can function as a cipher for Christ, as well as the Dharmachakra, representing virtue in Hinduism and Buddhism.

[zerospacer]

Astrologically, the beginning of the age of Pisces (Fishes) was at hand.

[gunnaryoung]

Another way a fish can be connected to baptism is if you consider the story of Jonah to be a symbol for baptism. He was swallowed by a large fish and then emerged from it after having repented.

[merrittanimation]

11:54
"I think to honor our dead relative we should get something public and long lasting so everyone can see it even generations into the future"
"I like that idea"
"And put out super secret cipher on it to honor his beliefs despite the possibility it might get us all killed."
"I'm sorry what?"

[kakarroto]

Thanks for sharing that, that was really cool. I always just assumed the fish symbolized when Jesus fed that starving village with a fish and bread, and that he was a "Fisher of men".

[ganmerlad]

I went to Ephasus and the tour guide pointed out the circle and spokes (which was carved into stone in good number of places) being a Christian symbol, but never explained why -- so I've just been thinking "pizza" for the last few decades whenever Ephasus comes up. Glad you finally cleared it up for me. Now I need to explain it to my mom who was on the trip too. :p