The Apostles Creed
(Did Jesus Really Go Into Hell?)
QUESTION:
"Hi, I've been searching the web trying to locate any discussion on the
section in the Apostle's Creed that says "He descended into hell".
I am a Christian and was taught the Creed at an early age. I never really considered
this line 'til it came up in a Sunday School class where a member of the class
said that this was not scriptual. I have read some discussion that the reference
in Ephesians 4:8 to 10 is used but at best everything seems muddy as to what
this line means. I am only concerned for the fact that when new Christians hear
this kind of discussion from someone who should be a mature Christian, they
may also discount other parts of the Apostle's Creed which I think would be
sad indeed. If you can shed any light on the matter, I would appreciate your
comments."
ANSWER:
Dear Mr. ----------------,
I first of all must address your comments concerning the Apostle's Creed. I
understand that your acceptance of the creed is in sincerity, however, I hope
you will carefully consider the acceptance of this creed in light of the Scriptures.
Please read and study the following with the understanding it is written in
sincere love and concern.
The New Covenant (Testament), made valid by the death of Jesus Christ, is the
one and only constitution of Christ's church. The New Testament is all-sufficient
for our every need. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the
man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2Tim. 3:15-16;
also see 2Pet. 1:2-3). The warnings concerning additions or subtractions the
Scriptures themselves give point to their all-sufficiency (Gal. 1:6-10; 2Jn.
9; Rev. 22:18-19).
The Apostle's Creed to which your refer, is a uninspired document. It is neither
of apostolic origin, nor does it's existence agree with the apostolic teaching
of the Bible. If the apostles had written such a document, it would have been
carefully and accurately passed down without modification.
However, existing documents show that the creed has undergone gradual change.
In fact the line "He descended into hell" was neither included in
the Marcelli Ancyrani (a Greek version of the creed, A.D. 340), nor even in
some of the Latin versions of the creed (cf. Romana, from the 3d or 4th century)
It was not until the later that this line and others appeared. (see History
of the Christian Church, by Philip Schaff, Vol. 2, pp.535-536 for an example
of these text).
Even if every line in a creed states truth, it is still a creed, simply a statement
of conclusions made by men. A creed is a statement of belief. And even if that
statement of belief is based on the Scriptures it is not the Scriptures. Creeds
point men in the wrong direction. To find truth that one might obey and be acceptable
to God one should not look to a creed, a statement of belief about the truth,
one needs to look at the TRUTH; for statements made by men may or may not be
true.
Many base the spiritual soundness of an individual upon how they accept or reject
the articles listed in the creeds they cherish and publish. Spiritual soundness
comes as a result of studying, believing and obeying what the Word of God says,
regardless of what a creed says or does not say.
Many claim spiritual soundness, because they have accepted a particular creed
to be truthful. Yet many have accepted the creed without knowing the Scriptures
from which it is supposedly based upon. Thus, their faith and hope is based
on a statement of men's belief and not on the Scriptures themselves. This is
what you have implied in you comments to me concerning yourself. You no doubt
accept the Apostles Creed as you stated that you "think it would be sad
indeed" if someone were to "discount" a part of this creed. Yet,
you have not closely examined the creed or the Scriptures from which it was
produced; for you state, "I never really considered this line 'til it came
up in a Sunday School class."
The answer is to turn from the creeds of men to the Word of God alone. It alone
is the "power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). Consider this...
If a creed has more than the Bible it has too much. If a creed has less than
the Bible it does not have enough. It a creed contains the same as the Bible
why do you need it! (cf. 2Jn. 9). In the judgment we will not stand before the
Lord and be judge by any creed, it is the Word of God by which we will be judged
(Jn. 12:48).
Now concerning whether or not Jesus "descended into hell." The statement
"He descended into hell" is nowhere found in the Scriptures. However,
it seems to be based upon two statements made by Peter; one in Acts 2:27 and
1Pet 3:18.
In Acts 2:27 Peter was quoting Psalm 16 to show that Jesus was not left dead
but raised alive. Acts 2:27 of the King James Version reads "Because thou
wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption." This translations has led some to conclude that Jesus went
to hell only was not left there. The word "hell" here is an unfortunate
and misleading translation. The term in the original is the Greek word "hades"
which literally refers to the region of departed spirits. It is not "gehenna"
the term Jesus used to described as eternal punishment (Matt. 5:22) that we
usually associate with the word "hell." Other versions of the Bible
(NKJV, NASB, RSV, ASV, NRSV) translate with "hades" in Acts 2:27.
Men do not immediately go into their final state after death, but rather go
to the hadean realm to wait the resurrection and the judgment (cf. Matt. 5:28-29).
This realm of the dead is separated into two parts by a great gulf. One part
of the realm assigned for the wicked and their torment, the other for the righteous
which is for them, a place of comfort (see Lk. 16:19-ff).
Jesus' died when His spirit left His body (Jn. 19:30). Where did it go? Not
to "geenna," the place prepared for the devil and his angels, but
to "hades" the realm of the dead. What part of hades? To the part
where the righteous dwell. Jesus said to the thief that hung beside him on the
cross, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise"
(Lk. 23:43). Jesus however, was not left in this hadean realm, but as Peter
explained from Ps. 16 God did not abandon His soul to Hades, nor allowed His
Holy One to undergo decay (Acts. 2:27). Jesus' spirit was reunited with His
body on the third day, raised alive.
To conclude that Jesus went to hell, that is, the place of eternal torment,
is a misunderstanding of the Scriptures.
Some may also conclude from Peter's statement in 1Pet. 3:18-19 that Jesus went
to "hell." It states, "...He went and made proclamation to the
spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient..." Jesus did not have
to enter into the part of the hadean realm where these spirits were, to make
proclamation to them. Abraham did not have to leave from where he and Lazarus
were to speak to the rich man who was in torment (Lk. 16). But even if Jesus
did this is still not "geenna," the place prepared for the devil and
his angels that we usually associate with "hell."
As far as Eph. 4:8-10 the only similarity this passage has with the phrase in
question is the word "descended." Nowhere in this passage does it
mention in the English or the Greek anything concerning hell or hades. Here
Jesus is said to have "descended into the lower parts of the earth,"
not hell.
The point the apostle is making in this passage is concerning pre-existence
of Christ with God. When it is stated that Jesus has "ascended," Paul
declares it is necessary to conclude that He "also had descended."
This passage has nothing to do with Jesus going to hell, but rather with the
ascension of Christ and His pre-existence from all eternity. The whole context
deals with Christian unity and how that unity is attained by following what
Christ has provided through those who proclaim and teach His truth.
Please consider these things carefully and examine them by the Scriptures. I
hope this is helpful and I look forward from hearing from you after your study
of these things.
Yours truly,
Paul Smithson
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