MATTHEW 3:16

Q: Why does the Holy Spirit appear as a dove?

One common association made between this verse and the OT is with the spirit hovering over the water at the first creation. In this case the hovering dove announces the start of a new creation. Another possible reference to the creation in Genesis 1 is God's voice saying he is pleased with Jesus (similar to “God saw it was good.”) But one scholar has counted fifteen other possible explanations for why the Spirit appears at this time, especially as a dove.

1. It completes the Trinity. Rabbis taught that the Spirit of God would only become active again on earth when the Messiah came.

2. Properties of the dove which may have been intended to apply to the Holy Spirit (and become imparted to Christ) are graciousness, gentleness, purity.

3. The dove (or any bird) is appropriate because it can bridge the gap between heaven and earth.

4. Others feel that the dove with the olive branch indicates God's peace with mankind. J.B.Phillips -- violence (lit. “ripped open” in Mark's account) and peace are found together.

5. Rabbis used the dove as a frequent symbol for Israel herself (also in Hosea). Here Jesus becomes the unique representative of the new Israel. Similar wording between Matthew 3:13 and 3:5 (Even more obvious in Mark's account) shows this intended identification of Jesus with the sinful nation. This is probably the explanation of the difficult phrase “fulfill all righteousness.”

6. The dove flying over the flood waters in Genesis symbolizes the end of one age and the start of another one. Recall that Peter compares baptism with the ark which saved Noah and his family.

7. As in crossing of the Jordan in OT times, Christ leads the way for us in death and resurrection, represented by his own baptism. There is an allusion to the Servant Songs in Isaiah 42:1--”Behold my servant upon whom I have put my Spirit” and Isaiah 43-- “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” This points to Christ's role as one who suffers on our behalf. Genesis 22:2 -- “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love.” Abraham was told to sacrifice his son.

8. Isaiah 11:1-2 has the Spirit resting dove-like on a Davidic figure. There are many other messianic references in this passage. Verse 17 is an allusion to Psalm 2:7, a coronation hymn referring to the Messiah, in which God calls David his son. Christ is being officially commissioned for his public ministry at this point.