29th April 2025

Throughout scripture, the biblical authors use different symbols to represent the Holy Spirit, portraying his office and the great variety of his work. A symbol is an image which has the power to give rise to thought, ¹ and during the period leading to the Day of Pentecost, we will give some thought to the symbols applied to the Holy Spirit, beginning with the dove.

The first appearance of a dove in the Bible is in the story of Noah’s Ark. After the flood, Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded, signifying a search for hope and new beginnings: ‘When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.’ (Genesis 8:11). The dove here symbolises a message of peace and renewal, heralding a new covenant between God and humanity. This moment foreshadows the Holy Spirit’s role as a bringer of peace and new beginnings.

In the New Testament, at Jesus’s baptism, the Holy Spirit descends as a dove, anointing Jesus and marking the beginning of his ministry. The imagery of the dove highlights the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification and divine approval, gently resting upon Jesus, the beloved Son of God. The dove at Jesus’s baptism also emphasises the purity and peace of the Holy Spirit. It shows us that the Holy Spirit comes not with overpowering force but with a serene and peaceful presence that transforms us gently from within. 

As followers of Jesus, the symbol of the dove teaches us several key aspects of walking with the Holy Spirit:

We are to seek peace: Just as the dove is a symbol of peace, we are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), embodying the tranquillity and gentleness of the Spirit in our interactions. 

We are to embrace purity: There is to be an innocence in the way we live (Matthew 10:16). The purity of the dove encourages us to live holy lives, set apart for God’s purposes, allowing the Holy Spirit to cleanse and renew our hearts. 

We are to be sensitive: The gentle descent of the dove at Jesus’s baptism reminds us to be sensitive to the quiet workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, often not in the whirlwind or fire, or earthquake, but in a still, small voice and gentle nudges (1 Kings 19:11-13). 

We are to experience the presence of God: The dove remained on Jesus at his baptism, which reminds us that the presence of God is always with his people through the Spirit. We have not been left as orphans but have God: Father, Son, and Spirit in us, and with us (John 14:15-28).

As Christians, let’s take some time as we approach Pentecost to reflect on the dove as a divine symbol of the Holy Spirit. May we be open to the guidance of this gentle guide, allowing his peace to rule in our hearts, and his purity to be reflected in our actions. Let us pray for sensitivity to the Spirit’s soft whispers, leading us to experience his presence in a deeper way.

¹  Dobbin, Edmund, Towards the Theology of the Holy Spirit, The Heythrop Journal, vol 17  (1976).

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church