The Apostles Creed

[Daniel Knight Sr.]

Not too long ago we attended a wedding and there was a big Apostles Creed behind the alter and my wife asked me why is says "He desceded into hell" when Jesus was perfect. I am afraid I never could explain it to her properly and have to ask - can someone here explain it here in laymans terms so I can pass it along to my wife?

Thanks,
Dan

[Bob Wollenberg]

Here's my understanding, which I'm sure, is not perfect. Jesus didn't go to hell in the same way as when someone says, "You're going to hell!" by which we usually mean, you deserve God's eternal condemnation. Jesus' going to hell is a way of expressing the idea that Jesus is Lord over everything...everything on earth, below earth and above. We must remember that in the ancient world there was sort of a three-tiered universe: the earth (the flat place where we live) and then the underworld and the heavens. Jesus is sovereign over it all. For him to skip a trip to hell might mean that he was afraid of it or did not conquer it. So, it is a statement of Jesus' power. How's that?

[Daniel Knight Sr.]

Thanks so much. This certainly gives me something to think about.
Dan