Posted on 02/10/2015 8:55:01 AM PST by RnMomof7
On my personal blog, and through e-mail, I sometimes get reader requests for posts. People often have interesting questions about a wide variety of issues, and I do what I can to try to tackle reader questions when I can. One of my relatives sent me a question a little over a year ago, and seeing that I had the same question boiling around in my mind many years ago (before I figured it out), I’m thought I’d tackle it and clear up what is a somewhat common question.
The question has to do with whether or not Jesus went to Hell after the cross and why the Apostle’s Creed reads that Christ “descended into hell” (descendit ad inferna). The problem is confounded in that not only does the phrase appear in the Apostles Creed, but it also is arguably insinuated in Acts 2:25-31, Romans 10:6-7, Ephesians 4:7-10, 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:6 (though due to time I won’t tackle the biblical texts but rather leave that to people who have already done a far superior job to my possible offerings).[1] So how do we unpack this idea and figure out what is going on in the Apostles’ Creed?
Well, let’s start with the Apostles Creed itself. The Apostles Creed is unlike the Nicene Creed or the Chalcedonian Definition in that it wasn’t a creed written by a church council but rather a summary statement of belief that evolved from a Roman Baptismal formula in the 2nd century and was expanded and edited for roughly 5 centuries. The phrase “descended into hell” didn’t become a standard element of the Apostle’s Creed until at least the mid 7th century.[2] The first recorded occurrence of the phrase “descended into hell” appears in the version of the creed used in the church in Aquileia that is commented upon by Rufinus in his Commentary on the Apostle’s Creed (written around 404 AD). A digital and searchable copy of Rufinus’ work is here and he writes on the phrase “descended into hell”, saying:
Those who have handed down the Creed to us have most carefully specified the time at which these things were done, namely, ” under Pontius Pilate,” so that the tradition of these things should never in any respect vary, as though being vague or uncertain. Yet it should be known that the Creed of the Roman Church does not include the words ” He descended into Hell,” nor is this clause found in the Churches of the East. The meaning of the phrase, however seems to be the same as that of the words “He was buried.” (page 26)
So, even in Rufinus’ day there were multiple versions of the creed, some of which did not include the phrase, and even when it was included the phrase “descended into hell” was understood to refer to the grave. One reason for this would be that in the Old Testament, the place of the dead was called by the Hebrew term “She’ol”, which had a wide semantic range that included the place of post-mortem suffering, the place of post-mortem blessing, and the grave itself. In the day of Rufinus, She’ol was translated into Latin as inferna.[3] The person reading the Latin Old Testament (known as the Vulgate) would regularly see inferna used as the term referring the both the place in which the bodies of the dead were placed, as well as the place to which dead people went, and it would have been a relatively common term in the Latin Old Testament (She’ol occurs 65 times in the Hebrew Old Testament).
So, I’ll cut the Apostle’s Creed discussion short here since, well, that essentially answers the question. Now admittedly there’s lots of scholarly ink spilled here on which Early Church Fathers thought that Christ descended into Hell itself, whether or not they thought of inferna as “the grave” or something else, and what Christ did while in the inferna. This whole debate is interesting, but I’d suggest that the weight of the evidence clearly lies in favor of the understanding of Rufinus; that Christ’s descending into hell simply is another way of restating that he actually, physically died (and consequently was actually, physically resurrected).
In lieu of my rather long posts in my responses to Dr. Michael Brown’s book Authentic Fire, I thought I’d shift gears and toss something short and sweet up for you all!
You’re welcome!
[1] These passages are all thoroughly dealt with by Wayne Grudem and he convincingly argues the conclusion that the idea of Christ’s descent into Hell is nowhere to be found in the scripture. Wayne Grudem, “He Did Not Descend Into Hell: A Plea for Following Scripture instead of the Apostles Creed”, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 34 no. 1 (March 1991), 103-113. Also, for a comprehensive take on 1 Peter 3:18-20 (the main text that people appeal to for biblical support on this question), one should pick up William Kelly’s book Preaching to the Spirits in Prison, which goes through all 22 competing interpretations of 1 Peter 3:18-20 and gives the passage an exhaustive treatment.
Ping
Most of the so-called “creeds” are full of traditions and misinformation. We would do well to just stick with the Scripture. Thanks for the post.
Matthew 8:28 - 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.
In my Sunday School classes, I always refer to this as the origin of deviled ham.
And yet so many others when informed of His acts and scripture deny Him.
If he did descend to Hell, it was to put the place on notice that scripture had been fulfilled and he was the Risen Lord.
according to catholic doctrine, the patriarchs died in the friendship of God, but, since they lived (and died) before Christ, they could not enter into the kindgom of heaven.
so, the idea is that Christ retrieved them from purgatory. that’s what he was doing for those three missing days before he was resurrected.
Great post! Over the years I have run into people who believe Jesus literally burned in hell for three days and they would probably fight you over it. I don’t understand wanting to believe that.
The Apostles Creed is, unfortunately, confusing on this particular issue. “He descended into Hell” is a reference to Christ dying on the cross (ie: going to the grave), he did not literally descend into Hell. We know this for two reasons. First, Christ declared his work finished on the Cross. Meaning that his redemptive work was complete, his punishment in our place was completed when he declared “it is finished.” Second, he told the thief being crucified with him that “today I will see you in paradise.” If Christ literally descended into Hell, he was lying to the thief.
Agreed
I would imagine that the word hell could have more than one meaning.
Revelation 20
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
So verse 13 indicates there was something referred to as hell but it was before the second death so probably had a different meaning than the hell after Judgment day.
Related to your post, I always thought it rather unfair to the pig farmer that his livestock was destroyed.
Then it was pointed out to me that the pigs were used for invading Romans and/or Jews who did not follow the law and (as this was during the period the law was required of Jews) and the land of Israel is promised to the Jews that the pig farmer was wrong on multiple levels (certainly at the time and place).
/end unrelated aside to the main post/
Ping for later.
The word hell is used indiscriminately where it shouldn't be. The different words that have been translated hell are;
tartarōsas - (tartaróō) is a Greek name for the under-world, especially the abode of the damned – hence to cast into hell" (A-S); to send into the subterranean abyss reserved for demons and the damned.
hadés - properly, the "unseen place," referring to the (invisible) realm in which all the dead reside, i.e. the present dwelling place of all the departed (deceased); Hades.
Hades also in all probability had two parts because it is where both Abraham and the rich man were. The rich man in torment and Abraham in peace.
Old Testament.
sheol - underworld (place to which people descend at death) (sometimes translated - grave)
paradeisos - an ancient Persian word meaning "enclosure, garden, park." - it's where Jesus said the thief would be with Him.
Ge'enna - (Hebrew - Hinnom) - (a transliteration of the Hebrew term, Gêhinnōm, "the valley of Hinnom") – Gehenna, i.e. hell (also referred to as the "lake of fire" in Revelation).
To give those who had previously died a chance to be saved through Him.
He wasn’t lying.
Matt. 12:40
Acts 10:40-41
I Peter 3:18,19
Col 2:15
Eph. 4:8-10
He was busy during those 3 days.
He was busy in those three days in Heaven with those whom he had previously saved and God the father. He was not, however, in Hell.
glad to see you here on the boards - hope you are well
I just HATE it when things are hinted at, and then I have to go track them down!
25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[a]
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.
Romans 10:6-7 New International Version (NIV)
6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[a] (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[b] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Ephesians 4:7-10 New International Version (NIV)
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
1 Peter 3:18-20 New International Version (NIV)
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive,[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
1 Peter 4:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
I’m Catholic, and I agree with you.
I cannot imagine Jesus anywhere near hell.
BTW: According to my Rosary (which comes from the Apostle’s Creed) its says:
“He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
No. I don't think New York State was even founded yet.
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