| The Apostles' Creed, Part 11: "He descended into hell" |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, December 26 2011 00:00 |
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Confusion exists because the word “hell” can describe both the realm of death generally, as did the Hebrew word sheol, or gehenna, the place of eternal suffering for those who die guilty of their sins. This confusion led to the idea of “the harrowing of hell,” an idea supported by an interpretation of 1 Pet 3:19 and 4:6 that Jesus went into the realm of suffering and preached to lost souls extending to them the opportunity to trust in Him and be saved. What Peter meant by these two comments is indeed difficult to understand, and a lengthy interpretation on my part would be unnecessary at this point and call for some degree of speculation. Personally, I believe Peter is speaking of Christ preaching through Noah in Noah’s day in 3:19 and broadened the scope in 4:6 to include all the preaching of the gospel before Christ. Scripture affirms that the gospel was indeed preached in those days (Heb. 4:2,6; 1 Cor. 10:3). As logical alternate interpretations are available, the idea of Jesus’ “harrowing of hell” cannot be established. Most Biblical scholars assume that the early Christians meant to say that Jesus descended into the realm of the dead. They were affirming again the fact that indeed Jesus died. He did not cease to exist, but He existed in the realm of the dead. What transpired with Him in that realm during those three days is not revealed in any degree of clarity and should not concern us. What is important is that Jesus died to fulfill the purpose of God and to save His people. People do not normally leave the realm of the dead once they enter it. C. S. Lewis has Aslan telling the young people that those who enter the waters do not come back. For one to return from the realm of the dead would require a miracle indeed! |
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