John Calvin’s Worst Heresy: That Christ Suffered in Hell

Called to Communion ^ | September 15, 2009 | Taylor Marshall

[NYer]

Years ago while listening to Hank Hanegraaff’s Bible Answer Man radio program, a caller called in about “Christ suffering in Hell.” Hank rightly explained that “Christ suffering in Hell” is not a biblical doctrine, but noted that the doctrine was held by John Calvin. Hank respectfully disagreed with Calvin.

We can argue back and forth over Calvin’s doctrine of baptism or predestination, but Calvin is a manifest heretic regarding Christ’s descent into hell. He breaks with Scripture and all the Fathers in this regard, and his error deserves more attention, because it shows the cracks in his systematic theology. During my three years at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, nobody wanted to touch this with a ten-foot pole.

So that you can get Calvin in context, I’ve provided the full section from Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion Book II, Chapter 16, 10 in full. The red inserts are mine.

But, apart from the Creed, we must seek for a surer exposition of Christ’s descent to hell: and the word of God furnishes us with one not only pious and holy, but replete with excellent consolation. Nothing had been done if Christ had only endured corporeal death. In order to interpose between us and God’s anger, and satisfy his righteous judgement, it was necessary that he should feel the weight of divine vengeance. Whence also it was necessary that he should engage, as it were, at close quarters with the powers of hell and the horrors of eternal death [What!!! Christ suffered eternal death and the pains the hell!].

We lately quoted from the Prophet, that the “chastisement of our peace was laid upon him” that he “was bruised for our iniquities” that he “bore our infirmities;” [ [the authors of Scripture and the Fathers apply these prophecies to the crucifixion--not to any penal condemnation in hell] expressions which intimate, that, like a sponsor and surety for the guilty, and, as it were, subjected to condemnation, he undertook and paid all the penalties which must have been exacted from them, the only exception being, that the pains of death could not hold him. Hence there is nothing strange in its being said that he descended to hell, seeing he endured the death which is inflicted on the wicked by an angry God. It is frivolous and ridiculous to object that in this way the order is perverted, it being absurd that an event which preceded burial should be placed after it. But after explaining what Christ endured in the sight of man, the Creed appropriately adds the invisible and incomprehensible judgement [ [so the cross as visible judgment was not enough. Christ suffered in hell...] which he endured before God, to teach us that not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price – that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man. [ [So after suffering in the body on the cross, Christ's soul suffered tortures of the condemned in hell.]

What do we make of this? Essentially, Calvin’s doctrine of penal substitution is the problem (something Catholicism rejects, by the way). If we understand atonement as “substitution,” we run into the error that Calvin has committed. Since sinners deserve both physical death and spiritual torment in hell we should also expect that Christ as our redeemer must also experience both physical death and hell. This logic only makes sense–except that it contradicts everything said in the New Testament about Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice. The descent into hell was not punitive in anyway, but rather triumphant as described by the Apostles and illustrated in thousands of churches, both East and West (see picture below).

This descent into Hell as Christ’s victory corresponds to the teaching of our first Pope Saint Peter: Christ “proclaimed the Gospel even to the dead” (εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ νεκροῖς εὐηγγελίσθη, 1 Pet 4:6). Jesus wasn’t burning in the flames! He was dashing the gates of Hell, proclaiming His victory, and delivering the righteous of the Old Testament! That’s the holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith in all its beauty.

The “penal substitution” theory of the atonement is patently false. Christ died for us, but it wasn’t a simple swap. Christ uses the language of participation. We are to be “in Him” and we are to also carry the cross. Christ doesn’t take up the cross so that we don’t have to take up the cross. He repeatedly calls us to carry the cross. Our lives are to become “cruciform.” The New Testament constantly calls us to suffer in the likeness of Christ. Again, it’s not a clean exchange. It’s not: “Jesus suffers so that we don’t have to.” Rather we participate in His redemption. This is also the language of Saint Paul:

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake (Phil 1:29).

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church (Col 1:24).

I would challenge all Reformed readers to slowly flip through the epistles of Paul and note the occurance of “in Him” and “in Christ”. Better yet, use BibleWorks or another Bible program and run a search. You will quickly see that “in Him” and “in Christ” is the universal soteriological category for Saint Paul–not justification or regeneration.

According to Catholic Christianity, Christian salvation involves the vindication of Christ’s unjust death on the cross. God does not “hate” His Son. This is impossible. God does not “turn away” from His Son. Luther introduced this false tension and it has led to Calvin’s grievous heresy. Saint Paul speaks of “overcoming death” as the true victory of Christ – not His being the whipping boy of the Father.

I should stop there and open up the comments:

• Have I depicted Calvin rightly?
• If you’re Reformed, do you agree with Calvin? If so, how does his view not denigrate the cross?
• If you’re Catholic, how has the redemptive model of participation enabled you better understand your own salvation?

[boatbums]

The blood of Christ is a concept understood only by post Resurrection Christians

Are you kidding me??? I can take you back to Genesis and show you the central theme running all the way to Malachi that points to the redemption of mankind through the atoning work of the Messiah. The shed blood starting at the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden to provide the skins of animals to cover them; the blood sacrifice of Abel's that was accepted by God while the veggies offered by Cain (his own works) was rejected; Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac on the altar but God providing a ram instead; the feast of the Atonement where the blood of a spotless, unblemished lamb was offered by the high priest within the Holy of Holies once a year for the sins of the people; I could go on....any of this ringing a bell?

[OpusatFR]

“You are over-parsing words to prove a point that can not be proven.”

Oh my! That’s rich coming from those who parse the concept of Mediatrix.

Perhaps not you, but your co-religionists.

[RobRoy]

Here is a good discussion regarding Lazarus and the rich man:

http://www.jeremyandchristine.com/articles/lazarus.html

[RobRoy]

>>I can take you back to Genesis and show you the central theme running all the way to Malachi that points to the redemption of mankind through the atoning work of the Messiah.<<

Yes. I strongly agree with you!

But how many people that lived during that time could?

[RobRoy]

Thank you for not painting me with the same brush. I will try to prayerfully parse what the Bible says, in my quest to understand, but when it comes to the words of men long dead, after a while I have to just say, “I dunno exactly what he meant”. I can sometimes glean what they meant by reading their other words and use them as “parity bits” but that’s about it.

[pctech]

Jesus Christ went to Hell alright, but it wasn’t to suffer anymore. He went there to take the keys of hell and death from satan. He set the captives free.

[OpusatFR]

“Here is a good discussion regarding Lazarus and the rich man:”

Thanks but no thanks. The discussion is Ray’s opinion and not one I hold.

[Dutchboy88]

Thanks, boatbums. Welcome aboard (couldn’t resist). Feel free to jump into the fray and give us your perspective.

[boatbums]

But how many people that lived during that time could?

Even when Eve had her first child, Cain, she said, "I have gotten a man from the Lord (even from Jehovah). She was expecting the Savior already! Abel and Cain knew the sacrifice God expected.

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

The OT prophets and therefor the priests and people knew the point of the blood sacrifices:

Hebrews 10:1-14

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year.

For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

[Brookhaven]

I already understood all that. I just didn’t feel that long an explination was needed at the time.

Good job explaining it all though.

[Brookhaven]

“You didn’t see the other posts regarding exactly what Hell is.” What do you make of Luke 16:19-31? And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried: and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Strong's definiton for the Greek work translated as Hell here: Strong's G86 - hadēs ᾅδης Transliteration hadēs Pronunciation hä'-dās (Key) Part of Speech proper locative noun Root Word (Etymology) from G1 (as negative particle) and G1492 TDNT Reference 1:146,22 Vines View Entry Outline of Biblical Usage 1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions 2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead 3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell In Biblical Greek it is associated with Orcus, the infernal regions, a dark and dismal place in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of disembodied spirits. Usually Hades is just the abode of the wicked, Luk 16:23, Rev 20:13, 14; a very uncomfortable place. (TDNT) The correct translation of this word is Hades. The KJV translates Hades as Hell. In the example you gave, the correct translation is: "The rich man also died, and was buried: and in HADES he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,"

[OpusatFR]

” “The rich man also died, and was buried: and in HADES he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,”

We can assume then that being in Hades is being in toments?

[Brookhaven]

One more try to get the formatting right:

“You didn’t see the other posts regarding exactly what Hell is.” What do you make of Luke 16:19-31? And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried: and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Strong’s G86 - hades

Transliteration

hades

Root Word (Etymology)

from G1 (as negative particle) and G1492

TDNT Reference

1:146,22

Vines

View Entry
Outline of Biblical Usage

1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions

2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead

3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell
In Biblical Greek it is associated with Orcus, the infernal regions, a dark and dismal place in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of disembodied spirits. Usually Hades is just the abode of the wicked, Luk 16:23, Rev 20:13, 14; a very uncomfortable place. (TDNT)

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G86

The KJV translates everything as Hell. This should be translated as:

“The rich man also died, and was buried: and in HADES he lifted up his eyes,”

Don’t believe me? Look it up yourself. You can find a concordance at blueletterbible.org .

[PugetSoundSoldier]

1 Peter 4:6 is talking of the dead in Christ, not the physically dead. In 1 Peter 4:5 Peter talks of “who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” This is in terms of spiritual state - alive or dead in Christ.

And in that context, preaching to the dead makes perfect sense, for we are all dead in Christ until we accept Him and are saved. You preach to the dead and living, just by spreading the Word of God.

[Brookhaven]

” “The rich man also died, and was buried: and in HADES he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,”

We can assume then that being in Hades is being in toments?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That is what the Bible says.

Go back and read post #92. He did a good job explaining the two parts of Hades.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Thanks; I agree to the point made earlier...Christ was giving a final sermon.

But if all the other propheciesin that “sermon/psalm” were true...

“...But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

“He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him...”

I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

If all these were true, then WHY NOT the final words of abandonment He spoke?

I think that is part of the story of salvation—the actions of Christ and his willingness to be that sacrifice (the sacrifices of the lambs imputed the guilt away from the person and upon the being upon the altar, right?) mean that he “took our sin” and died.

One pastor I know says that God “turned his back” on His Son. Whatever metaphor one uses, the meaning is clear: the punishment that was ours was put upon Him.

Perhaps Calvin had it right.

[Revelation 911]

Im not at all surprised......

first it's "show me where we do that"....

then, it's "The fact that someone kneels before a statue to pray does not mean that he is praying to the statue, "

[OpusatFR]

Oh, I’ll take your word for Hades, but you haven’t answered my question:

YOU: “In the example you gave, the correct translation is: “The rich man also died, and was buried: and in HADES he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,”

My question is this: Have we established that being in Hades is being in torments?

[conservonator]

Cardinal Bacci clearly uses the word worship to define the veneration acts of bowing and praying to saints:

and he goes on to clearly, to anyone with an interest in understanding and not mischarictorizing, that veneration, dulia and even hyper dulia is not what we offer the lord, latria. English is a poor language in many ways, and this is just one example. veneration is not worship as we tend to use it in the common English language understanding.

Did Calvin really believe Christ "suffered" in hell?

[blue-duncan]

“Are you suggesting that we no longer sin? Or that we no longer need to offer penance for our sins? And, how do we know if our sins are forgiven?”

We sin and when we confess our sin He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. There is no mention of having to do penance for what penance can we offer that can rival the penalty paid by Jesus. We know we have been forgiven based on the word and deed of Jesus.

1John 1:7-10, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”