The imagery of the dove as a title and name for the Church is deeply rooted in biblical symbolism and Christian tradition. The dove is often associated with purity, peace, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, making it a fitting representation of the Church, which is called to embody these attributes.

Biblical Symbolism

The dove first appears in the Bible in the account of Noah's Ark. After the flood, Noah sends out a dove to see if the waters had receded. The dove returns with an olive leaf, signaling the restoration of peace and the renewal of the earth (Genesis 8:11). This imagery of the dove as a harbinger of peace and new beginnings is echoed in the Church's mission to bring the message of reconciliation and hope to the world.

In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is described as a dove, symbolizing purity and beauty: "My dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her" (Song of Solomon 6:9). The Church, as the Bride of Christ, is often seen in this light, called to be pure and set apart for her Bridegroom.

The Holy Spirit and the Church

The dove is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove at His baptism (Matthew 3:16). This event marks the anointing of Jesus for His ministry and signifies the presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Church, indwelt and guided by the Holy Spirit, is called to continue the work of Christ on earth, bearing witness to His life, death, and resurrection.

Peace and Purity

The Church is called to be a community of peace, reflecting the peace of Christ in a world often marked by conflict and division. The dove, as a symbol of peace, reminds believers of their calling to be peacemakers: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). The Church is to be a sanctuary of peace, where the love and grace of God are evident in the lives of its members.

Furthermore, the purity associated with the dove is a reminder of the Church's call to holiness. The Apostle Paul exhorts the Church to be "blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation" (Philippians 2:15). As the dove is a symbol of innocence and purity, so the Church is to strive for moral and spiritual purity, reflecting the character of Christ.

Conclusion

The title and name of the Church as a dove encapsulate its identity and mission. As a community marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Church is called to be a beacon of peace and purity in the world, faithfully representing the love and grace of God.Songs 2:14
O my dove, that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 5:2
I sleep, but my heart wakes: it is the voice of my beloved that knocks, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Letter to Veranus
... eternally the same, should be limited in body is far from the universal faith of
the church"is sought, just as He ... Book V: On the Various Names and Titles. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/letter to veranus.htm

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ...
... Therefore this one dove Christ also calls his beloved bride ... it pleased all the bishops,
whose names and subscriptions ... in the holy synod of the church of Carthage ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period ii the church from.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... upon three pedestals upon the wainscot, gilt, and a hovering dove upon the ... The painted
'crimson curtains' at the east end of Battersea Church, 'trimmed with ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

The Catholic System.
... had burst forth, and were striving under various names to tear ... means the communion
of the whole Catholic Church was constantly ... [568:2] These titles cannot now ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter viii the catholic system.htm

Elements of Prophetic Interpretation.
... VI. "The Names of Symbols are their literal and proper names, not metaphorical
titles.""Ib. VII. ... Explained to be a church."21:9, 10. 24. ...
/.../a brief commentary on the apocalypse/elements of prophetic interpretation.htm

Fragrant Spices from the Mountains of Myrrh. "Thou Art all Fair ...
... in which respect they get many titles, otherwise unsuitable ... Jesus doth not bear your
names upon His hands, or ... Christ delights to think upon his Church, and to ...
/.../spurgeon/till he come/fragrant spices from the mountains.htm

Psalm LXVIII.
... because even thus of some Psalms the titles are inscribed ... of the tribes of
Israel?...For the names are Hebrew ... us the most proper princes of the Church, worthy ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxviii.htm

The Doctrine of the Scriptures.
... I. THE BIBLE"ITS NAMES AND TITLES. ... is evident from the minuteness and detail as to
names, times and ... And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the scriptures.htm

Continuation of the Discourse on the Holy Ghost.
... Holy Spirit is but one;"of which names, we will ... alleged, it is established, that
though the titles of the ... wolves feed with the lambs, in whose Church the calf ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xvii continuation of the.htm

The Historical Books of the New Testament, Meaning Thereby the ...
... to their authority, and to the titles which they bear ... of the Gospels then received,
the names of the ... at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Ephesus; the church of Rome ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/section i the historical books.htm

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