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To: frank ballenger
When the Apostles’ Creed states that Jesus “descended into hell,” Catholics teach that He did not go to the place of the damned.

This is my understanding as well. Jesus descended into the underworld, not Hell as we think of it.
I'm not sure why the Apostle's Creed says "Hell", except that it is shorter and easier to say than "underworld".

17 posted on 05/22/2026 5:56:33 PM PDT by chud
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To: chud

Funny that the word usage has caused so many questions and misunderstandings, though.


21 posted on 05/22/2026 6:24:21 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: chud; frank ballenger

The use of “hell” in the Apostles Creed is an archaic use of the word that most modern prayer books now render, “He descended to the dead.” People who still use the word “hell” when reciting the Creed are either using old (or old fashioned) prayer books, or are old themselves and are still sticking to the usage they were brought up with. Nothing wrong with it in private prayer as long as they know what is being said here and not confusing it with the place of the damned, but reciting it that way in public without explanation could confuse others.


23 posted on 05/22/2026 7:12:04 PM PDT by fidelis (Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversae! Vicit Leo de tribu Juda, Radix David! Alleluia!)
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