The Apostles' Creed: 12-Day Plan Sample

 He Descended to Hell; the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead

For some people, the phrase “He descended to hell” is controversial. This phrase wasn’t included in the earliest forms of the Apostles’ Creed but was added by a Roman theologian named Rufinus in A.D. 390.

Rufinus didn’t interpret the phrase to mean that Jesus went to a place of eternal judgment but rather that Jesus went down into the earth and was buried. Christ, in His humanity, fully experienced death and judgment for sin on our behalf. His burial was a vicarious, victorious one because He descended into the grave, into the earth He created. By doing so, Jesus experienced death with us and for us. He also defeated death for us and was resurrected, as we shall be someday.

The resurrection truly makes the Christian faith unique. Throughout history many people have died for their beliefs. Countless martyrs have willingly and even eagerly given their lives for their faith, refusing to compromise their convictions because they were certain the reward for faithfulness was greater than any suffering they endured. The difference between Jesus and any guru, prophet, teacher, leader, or hero is that He was the only Son of God and didn’t stay dead. Jesus not only suffered and died but also rose from His burial place, left the tomb empty, and appeared before hundreds of eyewitnesses. The resurrection of Jesus is not only miraculous but also evidence that only He has authority over life and death and the ability to forgive sin. Because Christ isn’t dead, we can be confident that all our sins have been forgiven.

When we affirm the words of the Apostles’ Creed, we embrace the difficult reality of death and the promise of resurrection. In the words “He descended to hell; the third day He rose again from the dead” we gain an eternal perspective.  

For more information on The Apostles' Creed by Matt Chandler, please visit LifeWay.com/ApostlesCreed.