Matthew 3:16 (WEB)
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
Catechism · 5
The Sacrament of Baptism
“The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son."” — Catechism footnote: Mt 3:16-17.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
“The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 3:13-17; Jn 1:33-34.
The Mysteries of Christ's Life
“Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son."” — Catechism footnote: Mt 3:13-17.
“At his baptism "the heavens were opened"” — Catechism footnote: Mt 3:16.
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
“When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 3:16 and parallels.
Fathers and councils · 44
Irenaeus of Lyons
“And then, [speaking of His] baptism, Matthew says, “The heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God, as a dove, coming upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment
Cyril of Jerusalem
“But see what saith the Gospel; the heavens were opened; they were opened because of the dignity of Him who descended; for, lo, he says, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and lighting upon Him: that is, with voluntary motion in His descent.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment
Augustine of Hippo
“…of them puts the saying thus, “In whom I am well pleased,” the second thus, “In Thee I am well pleased;” and the third thus, “In Thee it has pleased me;”—if you ask which of these different modes represents what was actually expressed by the voice, you may fix on whichever you will, provided only that you…” — editor's note: In te complacuit mihi. Matt. iii. 16, 17; Mark i. 10, 11; Luke iii. 22. [The Greek mss., of most weight, show no variation between Mark and Luke in the last…
Read the whole comment“For this cause was charity betokened by the Dove which descended upon the Lord.” — editor's note: Hom. in Ev. vi. p. 82; Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“Nor, again, that this Trinity descended in the form of a dove upon Jesus when He was baptized; nor that, on the day of Pentecost, after the ascension of the Lord, when “there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,” the same Trinity “sat…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16
Read the whole comment“…of the creature was wrought, wherein the Holy Spirit might be visibly shown; whether when He descended upon the Lord Himself in a bodily shape as a dove, or when, ten days having past since His ascension, on the day of Pentecost a sound came suddenly from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and cloven tongues…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16
Read the whole comment“Accordingly, although that dove is called the Spirit; and in speaking of that fire, “There appeared unto them,” he says, “cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them; and they began to speak with…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16
Read the whole comment“It remains, therefore, now for us to consider,—since both in the Lord as born of a virgin, and in the Holy Spirit descending in a corporeal form like a dove, and in the tongues like as of fire, which appeared with a sound from heaven on the day of Pentecost, after the ascension of the Lord, it was not the Word of…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16
Read the whole comment“But with respect to the sensible showing of the Holy Spirit, whether by the shape of a dove, or by fiery tongues, when the subjected and subservient creature by temporal motions and forms manifested His substance co-eternal with the Father and the…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16
Read the whole comment“And Christ was certainly not then anointed with the Holy Spirit, when He, as a dove, descended upon Him at His baptism.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16
Read the whole comment“The Father in the voice which came from heaven, the Son in the person of the Mediator Himself, the Holy Ghost in the dove.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“And who hath any doubt about the Dove? or who saith, “What is the Dove?” when the Gospel itself most plainly testifieth, “The Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“So also we say that neither the Father, nor the Son, but the Holy Spirit only appeared both in the “form of a dove,” and in “tongues as it were of fire;” and gave to those to whom He came the power to tell in many and various tongues “the wonderful works of God;” and yet from…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“Upon Him baptized the heavens opened, and He saw the Spirit descending.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16; Mark i. 10; Luke iii. 21, 22.
Read the whole comment“For the Lord went up out of the water, as we read in the Gospel: “And, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and it abode upon Him: and immediately a voice followed, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“Now it was in a dove that the Holy Ghost appeared.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“For the fact that the Holy Spirit appeared in bodily form, as a dove, was a sight begun and ended at the time: just as also, when He descended upon the disciples, there were seen upon them cloven tongues as of fire, which also sat upon every one of them.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“In Jordan: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” ( Matt. iii. 16 ); hear Him.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 15, 16. [R.V., “from the water,” and “coming” for “lighting.”—R.]
Read the whole comment
Jerome
“Your presents, indeed, remind me of the sacred volume, for in it Ezekiel decks Jerusalem with bracelets, Baruch receives letters from Jeremiah, and the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove at the baptism of Christ.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“But as soon as the foul bird of wickedness is driven away, the dove of the Holy Spirit comes to Noah as it came afterwards to Christ in the Jordan, and, carrying in its beak a branch betokening restoration and light, brings tidings of peace to the whole world.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment
Tertullian
“Over the waters of baptism, recognising as it were His primeval seat, He reposes: (He who) glided down on the Lord “in the shape of a dove,” in order that the nature of the Holy Spirit might be declared by means of the creature (the emblem) of simplicity and innocence, because even in her bodily…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16; Luke iii. 22.
Read the whole comment“Never is Christ without water: if, that is, He is Himself baptized in water; inaugurates in water the first rudimentary displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials; invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own…” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 13–17.
Read the whole comment“If you had not purposely rejected in some instances, and corrupted in others, the Scriptures which are opposed to your opinion, you would have been confuted in this matter by the Gospel of John, when it declares that the Spirit descended in the body of a dove, and sat upon the Lord.” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment“Accordingly the Spirit, admiring such as soar up to the celestial realms by these ascensions, says, “They fly, as if they were kites; they fly as clouds, and as young doves, unto me”—that is, simply like a dove.” — editor's note: In allusion to the dove as the symbol of the Spirit, see Matt. iii. 16.
Read the whole comment
John Cassian
“And behold, a voice from heaven, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. iii. 16, 17.
Read the whole comment
Gregory of Nazianzus
“It is generally called Theophania, and the Gospel in the Liturgy is S. Matthew iii. 13–17.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment
Hippolytus of Rome
“And a voice (came) from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 16, 17.
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Matthew
For, as we have said, when the Saviour was washed, then the water was cleansed for our baptism, that a laver might be ministered to the people who were to come. Moreover, it behoved that in Christ’s baptism should be…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This action of Christ’s has a figurative meaning pertaining to all who were after Him to be baptized; and therefore he says, “straightway He ascended,” and not simply “He ascended,” for all who are worthily baptized…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
As by the immersion of His body He dedicated the laver of baptism, He has shewn that to us also, after baptism received, the entrance to heaven is open and the Holy Spirit is given, as it follows, “and the heavens…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Not by an actual cleaving of the visible element, but to the spiritual eye, as Ezekiel also in the beginning of his book relates that he saw them.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For had the actual creation of the heavens been opened, he would not have said, “were opened to Him,” for a physical opening would have been open to all. But some one will say, What, are the heavens then closed to…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
But was this then the first time that the heavens were opened to Him according to His human nature? The faith of the Church both believes and holds that the heavens were no less open to him before than after. It is…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Perhaps there were before some unseen obstacles which hindered the souls of the dead from entering the skies. I suppose that since Adam’s sin no soul had mounted the skies, but the heavens were continually closed.…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, so bright a glory shone round about Christ, that the blue concave seemed to be actually cloven.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But though you see it not, be not therefore unbelieving, for in the beginnings of spiritual matters sensible visions are always offered, for their sakes who can form no idea of things that have no body; which if they…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
As to all those who by baptism are born again, the door of the kingdom of heaven is opened, so all in baptism receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Chris after He had been once born among men, is born a second time in the sacraments, that as we adore Him then born of a pure mother, so we may now receive Him immersed in pure water. His mother brought forth her…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Holy Ghost took the likeness of a dove, as being more than other animals susceptible of love. All other forms of righteousness which the servants of God have in truth and verity, the servants of the Devil have in…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Seven excellencies in the baptized are figured by the dove. The dove has her abode near the rivers, that when the hawk is seen, she may dive under water and escape; she chooses the better grains of corn; she feeds…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is moreover an allusion to ancient history; for in the deluge this creature appeared bearing an olive branch, and tidings of rest to the world. All which things were a type of things to come. For now also a dove…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is easy to understand how the Holy Ghost should be said to be sent, when as it were a dove in visible shape descended on the Lord; that is, there was created a certain appearance for the time in which the Holy…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
It sat on the head of Jesus, that none might suppose the voice of the Father spoken to John, and not to the Lord.
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 50
Cited together in On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius III.16.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.15.
Cited together in On the Holy Trinity I.4 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §536 and 2 other places.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Catechism §535.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 3:16 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 7.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 7.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 7.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 7.
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 7.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Catechism §701.
Cited together in Catechism §701.
Cited together in Catechism §701.
Cited together in Catechism §701.
Cited together in Catechism §701.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 3:16 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On Baptism Chapter 7.
Cited together in Homilies on Matthew Homily 12.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.
Cited together in Letters Letter 31.