Continuing our study of the Apostles’ Creed...
“He descended into hell” or “He descended to the dead”
Methodists do not include this phrase when they recite the creed.
What is the underlying meaning of this phrase? Some ideas:
- Jesus had to complete the cycle of being human, including real death.
- Jesus’ power goes beyond the realm of the physical world.
- Notice that Jesus continued his descent: from heaven, to earth, to suffering, to dying, to the dead.
The word “hell” is from Greek = Hades; Hebrew = Sheol both of which mean ‘the place of the dead.’
Gehenna is a word used in the New Testament, often translated as ‘hell’. It was named after the Gehinnom Valley outside Jerusalem. In pre-Christian times, foreign gods were worshipped there and they sacrificed infants there (wicked and detestable). Ancient Hebrew kings eliminated the child sacrifice and worship, and turned it into a waste dump. So it was an actual place.
A weighty theological question:
Is hell close to Millvale?
New Testament has an after-death description in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
Early Christian art sometimes depicts Jesus exiting hell, triumphantly stomping on the devil, with the redeemed inhabitants of hell exiting behind him. Scripture reference: 1 Peter 3: 18-20.
The concept of heaven and hell is incorporated into 21st century Christian faith. But is the reason for our faith really whether or not we are saved?
Rob Bell’s book Love Wins, Scot McKnight’s book The King Jesus Gospel. Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God: “The kingdom of God is at hand.”
“On the third day he rose again”
Why is that important to our faith?
From Christ’s resurrection, we have hope. Our faith isn’t based on theory or rumor, but fact, witnessed by observers who were willing to die rather than say the resurrection didn’t happen.
