Descent Into Hell

The Apostles’ Creed, a classic summary of Christian belief, states that between Jesus’ burial and resurrection “He descended into hell.”

This puzzles many people—why would the sinless Jesus be in hell, even if it was only temporary? The problem is one of translation: The Creed, written in Greek, says Christ descended into Hades, the Greek word for the region of the dead, not a place of eternal punishment.

(It has the same meaning as the Old Testament word Sheol. See 869.) Paul, in Ephesians 4:9, says that before He ascended into heaven, Christ “also first descended into the lower parts of the earth.” So, “descended into hell” is more accurately translated “descended into Hades” or “descended into the realm of death.” Many churches solve the difficulty by simply omitting “descended into hell” from the Creed.

But “descended into the realm of death” is important, reminding us that Christ did indeed die a normal human death before God raised Him.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Voice of the Shepherd

Charles Stanley

Have you ever seen a child who cannot find his mother in a crowd? Although she may be out of sight, the little tyke may still hear her voice. It is almost as though his inner radar scans the sounds around him, looking for that one familiar tone.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Where the Real Power Resides

Charles R. Swindoll

The great apostle Paul was just like you and me. He had a love for God blended with feet of clay. Great passion . . . and great weakness. The longer I thought about this blend, the more evidence emerged from Scripture to support it.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Shut Up and Get Moving

Steven Furtick

When we’re looking for God to do something big. When we’re waiting to see God bring something new and greater into our lives. Be still. Let the Lord fight the battle for you. Let go and let God.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Some Positive Thing We Can Look at or Talk

Joyce Meyer

I once read a book that was based entirely on the word. He taught the reader to take each problem in his life, look at it honestly and then say “however,” and find something compensating positive in the individual's life that would put the problem into perspective.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Learning the Love Languages

Gary Chapman

Many couples earnestly love each other but do not communicate their love in an effective way. If you don’t speak your spouse’s primary love language, he or she may not feel loved, even when you are showing love in other ways.