I’ve known for the longest time that the sign of the fish – commonly placed on today’s motor vehicles and business cards – is used to represent Christianity. I’ve known too that it first became widely used in the first few centuries after Jesus’ crucifixion. Amidst Roman persecution against Christians, it became a secret symbol that Christians displayed to identify each other. It was sometimes even drawn on tombs, but most often painted on the outside of a dwelling to indicate that the place was a safe refuge to meet.

As to why the fish was selected to be a symbol, I think no one really knows. I’ve always heard, though, that it’s related to several mentions of fish in the Gospels. For instance, the twelve Apostles are designated by Jesus as “fishers of men.”  Jesus also references the fish when describing the “sign of Jonah.”

What I’ve never known, and inexcusably never bothered to find out until now, is the meaning of the letters found within the outlined symbol of the fish: I X O Y E.

The letters are the first letters of Greek words; an acronym, in other words. The “I,” translated into English, means “Jesus.” “X” means “Anointed or Christ.” “O” means “God’s.” “Y” means “Son.” “E” means “Savior.”

That summarizes to “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.”