Did He?

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

Periodically our church recites the Apostles’ Creed as a statement of faith.  The creed was written between the second and ninth centuries and is used as a summary of Christian doctrine.  It has been called the creed of creeds.  Recently we recited the creed and it caused a great discussion with my wife.  There is a controversial statement in the creed; He descended into Hell and the discussion hinged on – Did He?

There are Great theologians on both sides; theologians like Piper and Calvin.  But this question kept coming before me; Did He?

Did He as he was beaten for us (John 19:1-3, Mark 14:65)?

Did He as he was denied by us (Luke 22:60-62)?

Did He as he screamed in Mark 15:34?

And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Did he for us?

I think G. I. Williamson summarized it best.  In his book The Heidelberg Catechism: A Study Guide, G. I. Williamson has written:

“There is no phrase in the Apostles' Creed that has caused so much difficulty as this: 'He descended into hell.' Also, there is disagreement as to what the ancient church meant when it included these words in this earliest Christian confession. Yet in spite of the difficulty, the church has never been willing to remove these words. How then shall we understand them? We cannot possibly take these words to mean that Christ, after he died, went to the place where lost men go to suffer forever. We know he did not go there because he told the believing thief who died at his side that he would be with him that very day in paradise (Luke 23:43). The biblical meaning must be that what Christ suffered on the cross was itself a descent into hell. Now at first sight it might seem ridiculous to say that Jesus, in a few hours of suffering, could have experienced hell to the fullest. But remember, he was divine as well as human. Remember, too, that his human nature was sinless. Just imagine how great the suffering must have been for him when he was forsaken by God. Yes, because of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, it was possible for him to suffer the full measure of the infinite wrath and curse of God—what damnation is for the wicked. And because he did, you and I can be sure that God's justice is fully satisfied, so that we shall escape that damnation. Here is the Christian's solid basis for hope.”

Amen and Amen!

Grace and Peace!