Often when we are out at exhibitions I get asked about the origins of the Jesus Fish and why Christians use the symbol, so here is a brief outline of the story:
The Origins of the Jesus Fish
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 make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)
The fish was the first symbol used by early Christians, it predates the cross and it endures today as a lasting symbol of Christian faith. The fish is thought to have been chosen by the early Christians for several reasons:
The Greek word for fish (ICHTUS), works nicely as an acrostic for "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour". Although the word looks like IXOYE, the letters are from the Greek alphabet, so the "I" is actually an iota, the "X" is actually a chi, the "O" is actually a theta, the "Y" is an upsilon, and the "E" or "C" at the end is a sigma. Taking the first sound from each of these Greek letter names, we get the transliteration into our alphabet of ICHTHUS.
Jesus' ministry is associated with fish: he chose several fishermen to be his disciples and declared he would make them "fishers of men."
The fish would not be an obvious Christian symbol to persecutors.
It is said that during the persecution of the early church, a Christian meeting someone new would draw a single arc 
in the sand. If the other person was a Christian, he or she would complete the drawing of a fish with a second arc. If the second person was not a Christian, the ambiguity of the half-symbol would not reveal the first person as a Christian.
Today, when Christians (in the West) do not need to worry about persecution, the Christian fish symbol often has "Jesus" written inside or includes a cross symbol. The fish is also a symbol of baptism, since a fish is at home in the water.
Christian stargazers believe that God laid out the stars at the creation of the universe and that He named the stars. Centuries of Astrologers and astronomers agree that the stars are laid out in a particular pattern and this pattern is called the Zodiac or in Hebrew 'The Way'. God made the stars out of rocks and gas and the stars have no power to govern the destiny of the individual. The stars exist to 'declare the glory of God and to show His handiwork.' (Psalm 19) The story of redemption from the fall of man to the Judgment is pictured in the stars in the signs of the zodiac. The signs exist to point mankind to God.
The sign of Pisces in the stars is said to represent the old and new testament church and the sign of Aquarius pouring water into the mouth of the fish is said to represent the regeneration of the latter church.
(Reference: The Star Gazing Story by Norman Todd 2007.)
The Jesus Fish Collection was our very first collection and to celebrate seven years of trading we are featuring this collection on our homepage this month. All items in this and other collections can also be ordered in 9 or 18ct white or yellow gold.
For that special gift for your loved ones why not give the Jesus Fish, a lasting, timeless symbol of faith that endures.
