Variations of the ichthys symbol Variations of the ichthys symbol The ichthys symbol, or "Jesus fish", typically used to proclaim an affiliation with or affinity for Christianity, has many variations. Some of these are made by Christians in order to promote a specific doctrine or theological perspective, such as evolutionary creation. Other variations are sometimes intended for the purpose of satire. Both the traditional ichthys fish as well as its variations, are often seen adorning the bumpers or trunks of automobiles, often in the form of adhesive badges made of chrome-colored plastic. While the fish symbol dates back millennia, having its origins in pre-Christian religious
Persecution of Christians in the New Testament evidence for persecution of early Christians by the Jews or the Romans. These opposing views do not present difficulty to asking what purpose persecution serves in the narrative and what Luke-Acts' presentation of persecution suggests about the author's motivations. The suggested purpose of persecution in Luke-Acts have included: to portray Christianity as a non-threat to the Romans by contrasting the movement with a disruptive Jewish community; to craft a polemic to discredit critics of Christianity; and to provide encouragement in times of hardship. Compared with the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospel of Luke contains few explicit examples of persecution