What Did Jesus Do When He Descended Into Hell

Did Jesus Actually Descend into Hell?

In the Christian church, there has always been a hot button issue that comes up every so often. This issue is concerned with the question of whether or not Jesus went to hell. There are schools of thinking that believe He did and schools of thought that believe He did not. Scripture does not provide a straightforward response to this topic; nevertheless, with more study, a more complete understanding can be gained. In some parts of the world, Christianity has always been viewed with suspicion, and this is no exception.

The outcome of these conferences was a collection of creeds that served as expressions of religious belief.

The Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed are the two most well-known creeds in the Christian church, and they are both written in Latin.

The image is courtesy of Getty Images/Kesu01.

Where Did The Idea of Jesus Descending to Hell Originate? And Did Jesus Descend to Hell?

The Apostles’ Creed is an enlarged form of the Old Roman Creed, which was in use as early as the second century and was adopted by the Church of Rome. The grounds for the formation of the Apostles’ Creed are not well understood by academics. Historically, early church leaders believed the credo was penned by the apostles themselves, although we don’t know for sure. That Jesus had gone into hell is thought to have been added later, about AD 390, to the Bible. This would have occurred at the same time as a bishop by the name of Apollinarius was giving a lecture.

1. During the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, this dogma was formally rejected and condemned.
2. It was during the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 that the Nicene Creed was formulated.
3. Constantine desired for the Christian church to have a declaration of faith that would unify all of the denominations under one roof.
4. Apart from the establishment of these creeds, there are scripture passages that are held up as proof that Jesus was crucified and afterwards resurrected.
5. Together with Ephesians 4:9, this passage contributes to the development of the belief that Jesus may have gone into hell following his death on the cross.

Understanding the Language and Meaningof the Apostles Creed

It is vitally crucial to be able to comprehend the language of a paper. A person must be familiar with the language and understand the meaning of the terms in that language. When there is a miscommunication, the entire meaning of a document or statement might be altered. Christians and researchers today must recognize that writings from the early church were written in a variety of languages that can be difficult to decipher and interpret. When it comes to translating Hebrew or Greek into English, we must proceed with caution.

• This term literally means “hell,” but it refers to the current version of Hell.
• The New Testament has a reference to hell written in the Greek language.
• The “abode of the dead” is difficult to translate from Greek to English because it is described by only two words.
• This term refers to a place of final punishment or a physical location.
• The phrase “he descended into Hell” is included in the Apostles’ Creed, and it is written in the Greek language as “Hades.” The Greek term for death, Hades, alludes to the condition of being dead.
• Kenneth West, a theological researcher, describes this in the following remark about 1 Peter 3:18-22.
• This is a transformation that has occurred as time has progressed.
• More specifically, the term “hell” came to refer to the location where Satan resides.

This was not what hell was like according to the languages of the Bible. Many churches nowadays do not say the Apostle’s Creed, which is a sad state of affairs. The ones who still do so often do so without including this statement. Photo courtesy of Aaron Burden via Unsplash.

Did Jesus Descend to Hell?

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke provide accounts of the events that occurred soon after Jesus’ death. Each report provides a vivid and understandable explanation of the events that took place. The Bible tells us that Jesus cried out and surrendered His spirit in Matthew 27:50-53. Then the curtain of the sanctuary came crashing down, and the ground shook violently. The tombs of the saints were revealed when the rocks were divided. As recorded in Mark 15:38, “Then the curtain of the Temple was split in half from top to bottom.” According to Luke 23:44-45, It was now around midday, and because the sun’s light had departed, darkness fell over the entire country until three o’clock.

1. Daniel, Elijah, and Zechariah all foretold of an earthquake and a period of darkness, which he describes in detail in his narrative of the event.
2. It is referenced in all three narratives, which demonstrates the significance of this event in human history.
3. Located in the Temple, it was suspended above and above the entrance to the Holy of Holies.
4. Aaron was permitted to enter the tent of meeting on the Day of Atonement, according to Exodus 26.
5. The Israelites were not permitted to enter the presence of the Lord at their leisure.
6. Is it possible that Jesus went to hell?
7. It had been decided to make the ultimate sacrifice.
8. Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/Tanya Sid

Why Do Some People Think Jesus Descended into Hell?

The concept that Jesus went into hell is still held by many Christians today, although many have called this belief into doubt. Some people are unable to comprehend this notion for whatever reason. Fr. Sev Kuupuo explains why Jesus descended to hell and what the aim of His descent was: “Jesus went to Hell in order to release souls who had been imprisoned for a long period of time.” The mission of Jesus’ ascension into Hell was to bring about the release of the holy people of the Old Testament.

He had to save the holy people of the Old Testament who were waiting for Him in Abraham’s bosom as well as the rest of the world.

In conclusion, those who believe that Jesus descended into hell believe that He did so in order to save souls and to fulfill the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. It is not a notion that He traveled to that location and stayed for a time. Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/Tomertu

Why Do Some People Believe Jesus Did Not Descend into Hell?

Many different reasons are used by those who profess their opinion that Jesus did not descend into hell in order to support their position. The most widely held belief is that Jesus was God manifested in human form. He is the one who created the area we know as hell. He forbade Satan from enteringheavent and living in hell for the rest of his days. After all, if God created hell and decided its purpose, how could he possibly visit it? Wasn’t Jesus a holy figure who had no business being in this place?

They have comprehended the significance of this sentence.

How Should Christians Respond to This?

This question can have many answers, and opinions will mold those answers. Christians today can struggle with what to do with this statement because they do not live in Greek society. They do not speak Greek. We just don’t know what certain words mean in Greek. Our response should be to take the time to study the Word. Do some research into the Biblical languages. Ask questions of your pastor or fellow person in Christ. This will help you to understand and process something that is truly beyond our human comprehension.

1. Understood properly, the Apostles Creed affirms a very important doctrinal truth.” The Apostles Creed has made a statement that is controversial for some Christians.
2. We must take the time to study before we take a stand on something.
3. He was put to death on a cross.
4. The gloriousness of this is that he did not stay there.

Sources:

Millard J. Erickson’s “Introducing Christian Doctrine” was published in 1992 by Baker Publishing Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “The Veil Was Torn in Two,” by Daniel M. Guertner, is available online. Having a strong desire for God. The 19th of April, 2019. (Retrieved on March 4, 2020) . Kenneth S. Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament is available online. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973. Credit for the image: Getty Images/nu1983 The author, Ashley Hooker, works as a freelance writer while also educating her two children, serving alongside her husband as he serves as the pastor of a rural church in West Virginia, and blogging about her Christian faith.

When Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey wreaked havoc on the United States, she traveled to Mississippi and Texas with the North Carolina Baptist Men’s Missionary Society.

She also traveled to West Virginia and Vermont to share the Gospel with others. Her desire is to spend her time writing and spreading the love of Christ to everyone she comes into contact with.

He Descended into Hell, or Did He?

The Apostles’ Creed is one of the oldest ancient confessions of the Christian faith. To this day, it is still in use by a large number of Protestant groups as well as the Roman Catholic Church, among others. In spite of this, it has a particular phrase that has sparked much dispute throughout history. The creed is as follows: I believe in God the Father Almighty, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, as revealed in the Bible.

1. He was sent into the depths of hell.
2. He has climbed to the throne of God the Father Almighty and is now sitting at the right hand of the Almighty.
3. For the sake of my own salvation, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic (or Universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiving of sins, the resurrection of the body, and a hereafter in which we will live forever.
4. It is the statement “he fell to hell” that has been the source of ongoing debate in the church for centuries.
5. Is it possible that he truly went to hell?
6. Let’s take a look at this crucial and intriguing issue in further detail.
7. When the question “Did Jesus genuinely fall into hell?” is posed, we must first clarify the concepts used in the discussion.

Jesus didn’t go to that place.

As a result, when early Christian writers wrote things like “He went to hell” or “He descended to the dead,” they were referring to this.

His body was laid to rest, and his spirit was transported to the land of the dead.

One such phrase is “the abyss,” which appears in Romans 10:7.

“Paradise,” for example, is a representation of the last resting place of the virtuous dead.

Then there are words like as “Gehenna” and “Hades,” which relate to the location where the unrighteous dead are buried.

(e.g.

What Do You Think of 1 Peter 3?

The text reads as follows: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order that he might reconcile us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but raised to life in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they had previously refused to obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, namely, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the Father, with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to him, baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

1. Jesus’ descent is mentioned here, but Peter also speaks about the entire path of Christ’s obedience—his life, death, and resurrection—in this passage.
2. If you take that term to apply to the time period between Christ’s death and resurrection, it refers to the time when Christ went out and “announced” his triumph over Satan, death, and all evil, which was accomplished via his substitutionary death.
3. At one point during the fall, it’s almost as if Jesus is shouting, “Hey everybody, I won!” and proclaiming his victory to everyone there in the land of the dead.
4. In 1 Peter 3, he is preaching it to people who live under the surface of the earth.
5. At the end of both 1 Peter 3 and Philippians 2, we see that he is being recognized as Lord by all people in heaven, on earth, and under earth—that is, the place where the dead are interred.
6. Jesus is referred to as “King” in that country as well.
7. What makes Jesus the King that he is?

According to author Michael Heiser’s book The Unseen Realm (which I do not endorse in its whole), this land of the dead is actually a representation of the dominion of the serpent as described in the Old Testament.

During his ascension, Jesus kicked down the gates of the kingdom of the serpent, demonstrating that he is also King there.

God, in the person of Jesus, penetrated even the realm of death and announced his victory as he descended into the depths of the earth.

The most important reason is that it provides a clear picture of why the old heresy of Apollinarianism is not real.

To put it another way, according to Apollinarian philosophy, Jesus was merely a material creature on earth, in terms of his human nature, during his time here.

And what better theory to use to oppose this error than the concept of Jesus’ descent, which holds that Jesus, according to his human soul, deliberately went to the region of the dead and declared triumph there?

According to my research, the emphasis placed on the descending clause in successive revisions of the Apostles’ Creed may have been due to the church’s ardent opposition to Apollinarianism at the time.

As a result, it is significant in terms of soteriology.

During his ascension, Jesus was victorious over the dominion of the adversary.

In his slide, he wasn’t attempting anything novel.

In the face of death and the world of the dead, he has achieved victory by his death on the cross.

In addition to his victory over death and, thus, his capacity to raise us from the grave and into new life in him, this substitution has a number of other consequences.

In many cases, the arguments opposing this belief are based on statements made by Jesus at his crucifixion.

First and foremost, in John 19:30, Jesus declares, “It is finished.” This was right before he was killed.

When Jesus stated, “It is completed,” he was referring to the completion of his active obedience.

There was nothing further that could be done in that situation.

Because death is a component of the punishment for sin, he is effectively dead during his descent.

He took our place and bore the brunt of our wrath.

He wasn’t attempting anything new this time.

As a result of what I’ve already done, here’s what happened: “I’m the winner!” His accomplished labor on the cross was applied to his physical existence, his post-resurrection teaching and ministry, and the domain of the earth after his resurrection.

Christ now has complete authority over all things as a result of his sinless life and atoning death.

The applications of what he has already done to rescue people in every domain of reality—under the earth, on the earth, and in the heavens—are as diverse as the people he has saved.

Several figurative names are used in Scripture to allude to the righteous section of the land of the dead, one of which is “paradise,” as you may recall.

When the dead are waiting for the resurrection, they are waiting “down” in the place of the dead, to use the Bible’s geographical and metaphorical terminology.

The nature of paradise has altered as a result of Jesus’ resurrection, which took place on Easter Sunday.

As a result, we’re talking about going to heaven today since that’s where Jesus is and where the righteous dead are, respectively.

“Yes, Jesus went down to the region of the dead, to paradise, to the righteous compartment, since he was righteous,” would have been the universally agreed conclusion.

As a result, the spatial language shifts.

He’s in the throne room of heaven, and the rest of the angels have accompanied him there.

Please keep in mind that Dr.

Brian Arnold go into greater detail about this doctrine on Episode 25 of Faith Seeking Understanding.

Matthew Emerson is a professor of religion at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he also holds the Floyd K.

He is the author of “He Descended to the Dead”: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday, which was published in 2008. (IVP Academic, 2019). Dr. Emerson graduated with honors from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned his Ph.D.

Why did Jesus ‘descend into hell’?

People are sometimes referred to as having “gone to hell and back.” The Bible says the same thing about our Savior as does Christianity. According to the Apostles’ Creed, a declaration of faith with origins that may date back to the questions asked of baptismal applicants in the late second century, the statement is found. As a result, it serves as a reminder that the redeeming power of Christ is available to all peoples and all periods, including those who entered and exited human history prior to his death and resurrection.

1. He is unable to escape from his own home in hell, which heralds the complete victory of the divine conqueror over Satan.
2. This belief, like many others in the Christian tradition, is not based on the specific teachings of Jesus as recorded in the gospels, but rather on his personal experience as God’s anointed instrument of salvation, as is the case with many others.
3. This was a question raised by early Christians.
4. According to tradition, they were considered to be residing someplace in hell or an outer chamber of the underworld, having been denied the final rewards of Christ’s redeeming work.
5. An excellent illustration of this may be seen in Luke 16, when an uncaring, affluent man is allocated to the netherworld, while a suffering beggar is granted rest in the “bosom of Abraham” (Luke 16:22).
6. The metaphorical depiction of the hereafter as a pit or chasm appears in numerous places in the New Testament and also in the Hebrew scriptures.
7. It was characterized rather literally with the same images that one would apply to a grave: a place of dust, worms, inaction, and decay, to name a few elements of the description.
8. Yahweh was thought to have power over death by this time (as depicted in the narrative of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37), and therefore Christ Jesus came to be portrayed as the agent who won Yahweh’s final triumph over sheol, even for those who were already in it.

This story first published in the March 2013 edition of United States Catholic (Vol. 78, No. 3, page 46). Do you have a question you’d like to have addressed? Inquire with us at [email protected]! Wikimedia image courtesy of Web Gallery of Art

Did Jesus Descend into Hell?

A common assertion in the Apostles’ Creed is that Jesus “descended into hell.” Most Christians are aware with this claim. My doubts are that they understand what this statement actually means or that they are able to reconcile it with the teachings of the Scriptures. What what happened when Jesus fell into hell, and when did it take place, is unknown. Is it true that Jesus died on the cross, as John Calvin claimed? Or did it take place after Jesus died and before He rose again from the grave, as many others have speculated and claimed?

• Is it possible that it was only figurative?
• It has been correctly pointed out that the word “descended into hell” does not appear anywhere in the Bible, and this is true.
• So, where can we turn for assistance in addressing these concerns?
• I believe that these scriptures provide the most accurate interpretation of the term “descended into hell” and demonstrate that the notion is in fact scriptural, despite the fact that the phrase itself does not appear in Scripture.
• At first glance, the sacrificial context of Hebrews 13:11 is obvious: “For the carcasses of those animals whose blood is carried into the holy regions by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burnt outside the camp,” says the author.
• 4:4–5).
• By doing so, he was impugning the animal with his own crimes (or the sins of the people around him), which meant that the animal had now been transformed into sin.

But why would you go outside the camp?

What was the message that sentence was intended to convey?

He dwelt in the midst of His people, and he did so in a manner that was distinct from the manner in which He dwelt outside the camp.

However, He was only covenantally and evangelically present within the camp, not outside of it.

Please allow me to clarify what I mean.

6:7; Jer.

Those who were outside the camp did not worship the covenantal God of Israel, and they did not belong to His people.

As a result, “outside the camp” referred to a location that was outside of God’s covenantal favor.

God was not evangelically present outside the camp, which means that God was exclusively working for the people’s benefit inside the camp, which is what I mean by “not evangelically present.” While God was certainly at work outside of the camp, He was not doing it for the benefit of those who were present, because they were not His people and He was not the God of those who were present.

1. However, it is only applicable to Christians, or, as Paul puts it, to “those who love God” and “those who are called according to his plan,” respectively.
2. In addition, the same fundamental concept may be applied to people who were living both within and outside of the camp.
3. When God was outside the tent, he was only present in the form of judgment and anger.
4. It is the only place whose residents may really and permanently assert that God is not their God, and that they are not His people, and that God is not their God.
5. It should come as no surprise that Jesus alludes to hell as a region of “outer darkness” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” on several occasions (e.g., Matt.
6. That which is outside of God’s covenantal and evangelistic presence is known as the wilderness.
7. That the Jews were compelled to transport their dead animals (whose guilt had been imputed to them) outside the camp and burn them in fire appears to reinforce this view, as the New Testament alludes to hell on several occasions as a place of burning.
8. 25:41), “the unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:43), and “the lake of fire.” It is also referred to as “the lake of fire” in Mark 9:43 and “the lake of fire” in Matthew 13:42 and 50.
9. 20:14).
10. 3:15) or as having been plucked “out of the flames” (1 Cor.
11. (Jude 23).

Hebrews 13:12 is especially crucial in this context since it states: “SoJesus likewise suffered outside the gate in order to purify the people by his own blood.” To be clear, there is a direct relationship between Jesus’ death on the cross, which took place outside the city walls of Jerusalem, and the practice of burning animal offerings outside the camp in which he was raised in the Old Testament.

• For just as animals were charged with the sins of their owners and then slaughtered before being transported to hell and completely devoured by fire, Christ was credited with the sins of His followers (2 Cor.
• And the concept is that it all happened on the cross, which is where Jesus died.
• This is when He spoke the well-known cry of dereliction, which goes as follows: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (See Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
• As the sin-bearing sacrifice, Jesus was completely destroyed by fire, and we are told that this took place “outside the gate” of the temple.
• It was on the cross that He accomplished this, as He endured an eternity in hell for the sins of all His people who would ever live.
• That indicates that there is no more hell for those who have placed their faith in Christ.
• He stood in our place and accepted the judgment and wrath of God that was poured out on us as a result of our sin.

As a confirmation that His sacrifice had been accepted by God, He rose from the grave on the third day, confirming that He had been accepted by God. God, from whom all benefits come, be praised!

Did Jesus Descend into Hell?

Is It True That Jesus Descended Into Hell? No. The question mainly comes from the King James translation of Acts 2:27, 31 (which quotes Psalm 16:8-11), which states that Christ’s soul “was not abandoned in hell.” The answer is usually affirmative. The phrase “Christ descended into hell” (as found in the Apostles’ Creed) is the source of the notion, which is more widely accepted (descendit ad inferna). When we say ‘hell,’ we don’t always mean the endless punishment hell of Gehenna, but rather the land of the dead or the underworld in both circumstances (OT Sheol, NT Hades).

11:23; 16:18; Lk.

1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14); it is usually rendered hell in English translations, with the exception of 1 Cor.

There is some confusion because Hades, like the Hebrew Sheol, can refer to the unseen spirit world, the final resting place of all the departed, both righteous and wicked; whereas hell, at least in NT usage, refers to the state and place of eternal damnation, NT Gehenna, which occurs twelve times in the Greek Testament and is so translated in English versions, viz., Mt.

• 10:7; Eph.
• There have been other New Testament texts that have been linked to the descend, which have been understood as Christ’s teaching to the dead and the proclamation of his victory over death, claiming those who had anticipated his arrival (cf.
• 3:19; 4:6; Mt.
• 12:23).

Despite the fact that the Alexandrian fathers included the pagan dead among those who Christ delivered from Hades, the prevailing view, which eventually became the orthodox medieval view, was that only believers from the pre-Christian period were recipients and beneficiaries of Christ’s preaching while in Hades.

During his ascension, Christ’s victory over the devil and death was powerfully described in the passion plays that were immensely famous in the Medieval West, and it was graphically depicted in medieval art and drama.

According to three various interpretations, the importance of the descent in the Apostles’ Creed is as follows: 1) It is synonymous with “buried,” which refers to the status of being in a state of death and under the authority of death until the resurrection (Westminster divines).

The “harrowing of hell” is a real event that took place after Christ’s crucifixion, during which Christ appeared to the souls of the dead, freeing all believers from the powers of evil and death (Luther and the Formula of Concord).

—Bruce Corley, president of B.H Carroll Theological Institute, in a statement

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• August13,2019 There have been several inquiries from Catholics concerning our confession of the Apostles’ Creed, which states that “He fell into hell.” Many people are outraged by the very faith that we pretend to have. The Apostles’ Creed has caused much consternation among the devout. Jesus’ ascension into hell has been met with astonishment by some of his followers. Hell is often thought to be the eternal home of sinners and evildoers, where they will spend eternity. Throughout his tale of Lazarus and the wealthy man, Jesus makes it clear that once a person enters Hell, he or she would be unable to return from Hell to Heaven (Lk 16: 26). Many Christians are troubled by this particular article of the Apostles’ Creed. In both the Bible and theology, the phrase “Christ descended into Hell” is supported by biblical evidence and theological reasoning (faith seeking understanding). Jesus Christ was laid to rest in the tomb, and he was thereafter resurrected and plunged into Hell. A number of occasions in the New Testament, it is said that Jesus was “raised from the grave” (Mt 28: 1-20
• Mk 16: 1-20
• Lk 24:1-49
• Jn 20: 1- 21:25
• 1 Peter 3:19). Prior to his resurrection on the Third Day, the crucified Lord is said to have passed into the realm of the dead, according to this theory. Jesus descended to Hell in order to free souls that had been imprisoned for a long time. The mission of Jesus’ ascension into Hell was to bring about the release of the holy people of the Old Testament. As explained by some theologians, Jesus Christ went into Hell in order to endure the whole intensity of suffering, which is the full consequence of human sin, in order to provide a total atonement for humanity’s guilt. Prior to his Resurrection, Jesus descended into Hell as the Savior, bringing the Good News of redemption to the souls who were imprisoned there at the time of his death. All souls were looking forward to the arrival of the Redeemer. The pure spirits that were waiting in Abraham’s bosom were rescued by Jesus Christ (Ps 89:49
• 1 Sam 28:19
• Ezek 32:17-32
• Lk 16:22- 26). Jesus Christ was the first person ever to be resurrected from the grave, according to the Bible (Rom 8:23
• 1 Cor 5: 7-8
• 16: 8). The ascension of Jesus into Hell delivered the Gospel message of redemption to its ultimate and conclusive conclusion. The final element of Jesus’ messianic mission was his ascension into Hell for the aim of bringing about redemption. That is the redemptive work of Christ for all people in all places and at all times. The risen Christ has “the keys of Death and Hades (Hell),” causing “every knee to bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” in response to the name of Jesus (Rev1:18
• Phil2:10). I hope that this thought will aid us in our spiritual growth and maturation. Fr. Sev Kuupuo is the Parochial Vicar of the parish.

Did Jesus really descend into hell?

A Fresco by Fra Angelico depicting the Christ in Limbo (ca. 1442) The Apostles’ Creed is the most well-known of the 12 confessions contained in our Book of Confessions, and it is likely that you are familiar with it. It has been accepted by every branch of the Christian family tree. Because it was initially used as a baptismal credo, it is frequently spoken at baptisms. Furthermore, because it is only 110 words in length, if you have any creed memorized, this is most likely the one you should choose.

1. The phrase “descended into hell,” which appears between the phrases “crucified, dead, and buried” and “the third day he rose again,” was not originally included in the Apostles’ Creed.
2. that the first reference of Jesus’ descent was made for the first time in history.
3. 750.
4. It all depends on who you talk to about it.
5. Both phrases are translated as “country of the dead.” As a result, some people, such as Rufinus, feel that this sentence merely implies that Jesus, as a completely human and totally divine entity, went through a genuine human death.
6. According to another, “hell” alludes to Gehenna, a valley outside of Jerusalem that was initially used for child sacrifice and later utilized as a waste dump, and that the term “hell” has become Hebrew “shorthand” meaning a place of eternal torment.

• Having to deal with the repercussions of human depravity Critics claim that Jesus’ remarks on the cross (“Today you will be with me in paradise” and “It is done!”) contradict this belief
• To spread the gospel, so providing the residents of hell a second opportunity at redemption. This interpretation is based on a specific reading of Ephesians 4:8–10 and 1 Peter 3:18–20, which appear to imply that Jesus may have visited the realms of the dead in order to rescue those who were present. Critics argue that this viewpoint compels an interpretation that was not originally intended.

However, there are other viewpoints, such as those held by John Calvin and those recorded in the Heidelberg Catechism, that suggest that the term “hell” should not be used literally. On the contrary, Jesus’ separation from God, which occurred on the cross, represents the ultimate anguish. The Presbyterian Church, then, has a position on Jesus’ “descending into hell.” All of the above. none of the above. a combination of all of the above (Did you seriously believe I was going to resolve a centuries-old theological argument in a single article?) Our differences in interpretation of this term notwithstanding, we can all agree on the important function it serves as a part of our shared confessional history.

Our ordination vows state that “the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Spirit, are the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to,” and that we “receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do.

1. That’s a lot of jargon to say that we think the Bible is the authoritative source for understanding and living out our relationships with God and with one another.
2. It is via our admissions that we may engage in discourse with others.
3. For example, the Reformer Theodore Beza did not agree with John Calvin’s use of the phrase “he plunged into hell,” preferring to leave it out.
4. We shouldn’t expect our religions to provide us with all of the answers.
5. It is because of them that we return to the Bible, where, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can meet the love of God, as it was manifested in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
6. With these words, we proclaim that Jesus loves us so deeply that he was willing to make — and be — the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.
7. And we are relieved that death no longer has the last say in any situation.

candidate at Trinity International University. She grew up in Libertyville and attended Trinity International University. Specializing in political science, she is a member of the Presbyterian Church (United States of America) Committee on Theological Education.

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What does the Apostles’ Creed mean when it says that Jesus descended into hell?

2 Minutes to Read In many Christian communities, the Apostles’ Creed is utilized as a fundamental part of their worship services. This is one of the most perplexing sentences contained inside the creed: “descended into hell.” First and foremost, we must examine the religion in the context of its historical development. Although we now know that the Apostles’ Creed was not penned by the apostles, it is known as the Apostles’ Creed because it was the early Christian community’s attempt to provide a synthesis of apostolic teaching at the time it was written.

• There is a first mention of the “descent into hell” section, which is a part of the Creed, perhaps around the middle of the third century.
• It is motivated by theological as well as scriptural considerations.
• As a result, in a way, Jesus has entered heaven.
• His soul, it seemed, is in a better place.
• Or does he end up in hell?
• According to this passage, Jesus went to hell at some time after his death, which is commonly thought to be between his death and resurrection, and this text has been cited as the primary proof text for this claim.
• Some believe that this was a vital part of Christ’s passion, whereas others disagree.
• His mission in hell is one of triumph, resulting in the liberation of Old Testament saints.
• In his letter, Peter does not reveal who the lost souls in jail are or where the prison is located.

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Did Jesus actually descend into hell?

The Anastasis (the Descent into Hell) is an ancient icon of the Resurrection from the church of Holy Trinity, which dates back to the 17th century. courtesy of Zzvet / Shutterstock.com Question: What is the doctrine of the Church on Jesus’ three days in the tomb? It appears to have been shorter. I’ve also heard that he was sent into the depths of hell. God, without a doubt, did not go to hell. —Private information withheld: name and location Answer: These are the kinds of inquiries that are frequently asked.

1. The phrase “three days” in the text does not always refer to 72 hours in the strictest sense.
2. The ancient Jews were quite content with counting half days as if they were a whole day.
3. For example, I may remark, “Last month, I was at my hometown with my family.” This does not necessarily imply that I came on the beginning of the month and left at the end of the month as stated above in the previous sentence.
4. Consequently, even if Jesus was not in the tomb for precisely three days, he was there for at least a portion of three days.
5. As a result, he went to Sheol, which the Hebrew language calls “Sheol,” and Hades, which the Greek language calls “Hades.” The tradition of translating these phrases as “hell” was adopted by some older English translations, and this has caused confusion among English readers ever since.
6. “Christ descended into the depths of death in order that ‘the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live,’ according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.” … ‘Even to the dead, the gospel was preached,’ says the Bible.
7. For those who are saved, this is the final phase of Jesus’ messianic mission, a phase that is condensed in time but enormous in its ultimate significance: the spread of Christ’s redeeming work over the entire world.
8. 634-635).
9. He didn’t just lie there, lifeless, like a corpse.

Raising the dead

What I find puzzling about Matthew’s Gospel is the part where the bodies of many saints who had died were resurrected from the dead. And following his resurrection, they emerged from their graves and entered the holy city, where they appeared to a large number of people” (Mt 27:52-53). What exactly is going on here? —Ward Johnson, from the city of Tampa, Florida Answer: The text concerning the dead rising from the grave and appearing to a large number of people is short on specifics. Those developed concepts of our imagination that the dead have come from their graves and are wandering the streets in a zombie-like manner, on the other hand, should be avoided.

Matthew, on the other hand, claims that “many” people saw him.

We don’t know how they appeared or to whom they appeared.

It’s possible that just a small number of people were given the opportunity to interact with the rising dead.

Thomas Aquinas considers the idea that the holy city indicated here, where they appear, may not have been Jerusalem at all, but rather the holy city known as heaven, in which they appear.

And came in front of a large number of people.” As a result, the writing is succinct and leaves us guessing.

We know that some of the dead rose from their graves and were observed by others.

The Church allows for a wide range of interpretations.

Pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church in Washington, DC, and writer for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., he may be found on the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.’s official blog, blog.dcarchdiocese.org. Questions can be sent to [email protected].