“He descended into Hell” – Say What?
In the Apostles’ Creed, one of the chief creedal summaries of the Christian faith from the early church contains a much-disputed phrase – “he (Christ) descended into Hell.” Some say the creed with this phrase, others leave it out for various reasons. Interpretations from the early church vary but typically revolve around an actual underworld visit by Christ on Holy Saturday of Easter weekend. Others, citing lack of clear biblical support for this understanding, either omit the phrase or interpret it as affirming the reality of Christ’s death – “he descended to the dead.” John Calvin, followed by Karl Barth, take a different tack. Not satisfied by the more “literal” views of the early church fathers, the rather obtuse redundancy of reading the phrase as affirming the reality of Christ’s death, they opt for a theological reading. Christ’s descent into hell is a metaphor for the time and place where he experiences the fullest extent of the godlessness of sinful humanity and the di...