G'day all,
Have you see the illustration of the dove fluttering above Jesus' head? It's on page 27 of the May 15 Watchtower.
The picture illustrates this text quoted on the page:
"After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a doveGod's spirit coming upon him." -Matthew 3:16
So, did a dove appear at the time of Jesus' baptism? Notice the word "like" used in the text. The Kingdom Interlinear shows that the original Greek expression was "as if". The text describes the Holy Spirit descending in the manner of a dove and coming upon Jesus. So it is the quality of the dove that is being used to describe the Holy Spirit's descent.
Why do the publications show a dove? Perhaps a clue to the reason is found in another word used in verse 16. Notice that Jesus "saw" God's spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit). If the spirit is merely God's active force, it would not be able to be "seen", would it? So by portraying the dove, the Borg is reinforcing its teaching of that supernatural "electricity" from God.
Makes you think, huh?
Cheers,
Ozzie
Freedom is not having to wear a tie.