Why jesus descended into hell

About the author. John Switzer John Switzer is associate professor of Theology at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he also serves as director of graduate programs in theology and ministry.

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I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day, he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic or universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. What happened to Jesus after he died on Friday and rose from the dead on Sunday?

Did he actually descend into hell? If not, where did he go? First, some critical nuance is needed. They meant that Jesus experienced death like all human beings do. His body was buried and his soul departed to the place of the dead.

But in other places, the New Testament uses specific terms. Gehenna, Hades, Sheol, etc. 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 resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Some just cannot wrap their minds around this concept. Sev Kuupuo explains why Jesus did descend to hell and what the purpose of His descent was:. The task of Jesus in descending into Hell was for liberation of the Old Testament holy people. Some theologians explain that Jesus Christ went into Hell to experience the full rigor of suffering, which is the full impact for human sin, so as to give a comprehensive atonement for the sin of humanity.

It is believed that the fulfillment of Jesus atoning for our sins could not happen without Jesus going into the place of Hell. His task in hell then is one of triumph, liberating Old Testament saints. In conclusion, those who do believe Jesus descended into hell, believe He went there to rescue souls and fulfill the sacrifice for our sins.

It is not a belief that He went there and stayed awhile. People who confess their belief that Jesus did not descend into hell have various arguments to prove their case. The most popular is that Jesus was God in flesh. He made the place we know as hell. He banned Satan from heaven to live in hell forever.

If God created hell and determined its purpose, then how could he go there? Others have researched this and came to their conclusions based upon what they have learned. They have understood what this statement means. Jesus did descend to hell because this word in Greek means the place of the dead not the place of eternal damnation.

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. 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. Understood properly, the Apostles Creed affirms a very important doctrinal truth.

The Apostles Creed has made a statement that is controversial for some Christians. The key to understanding this statement is to know what the words mean. We must take the time to study before we take a stand on something. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. Albert the Great pm Vigil Saturday St. He Descended Into Hell. August 13 , Hell is believed to be the eternal abode of sinners and evil doers.