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The Free Gift of Life
Romans 1-5
8 Interactive Bible Studies for Small Groups & Individuals
by Gordon Cheng
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
"Did Christ Descend into hell?"
This question was brought up in class last Sunday and it was something that I recall knowing but could not validate it with any biblical scripture. So I decided to look into it and after talking to some people, reading the bible, and reading Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology book this is what I found.
The phrase "he descended into hell" is not found in the Bible but is found in the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed was a Creed that took shape from A.D. 200 to 750 but this phrase was not included explicitly until A.D. 650. This phrase at that time didn't have the same meaning that we would think of it having today. At that time it meant that Christ was "buried" or in another way "he descended into the grave." (The Greek form has hades, which can mean just "grave", not geenna, "hell", place of punishment.")
There are verses that are used to support the phrase "he descended into hell," primarily Acts 2:27, Romans 10:6-7, Ephesian 4:8-9, 1 Peter 3:18-20, and 1 Peter 4:6. After reading these, none of them seem to support this phrase. Other interpretations seem to reflect more accurately the meaning of each passage rather than the idea that Jesus descended into hell after his death. One clear biblical verse that contradicts this idea of Jesus descending into hell is Luke 23:43 when Jesus is talking to the thief on the cross and says "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Jesus implies in this verse that his soul (spirit) will immediately go to be with the Father. This would mean that Jesus was not going to hell but to the Father.
Please comment or chat with me on this if you have a questions. If there are question I will be sure to look into them and try and provide an answer for the class.
References:
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
-The Atonement: f. Did Christ Descend Into Hell? (depending on the copy pg. 586)
The phrase "he descended into hell" is not found in the Bible but is found in the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed was a Creed that took shape from A.D. 200 to 750 but this phrase was not included explicitly until A.D. 650. This phrase at that time didn't have the same meaning that we would think of it having today. At that time it meant that Christ was "buried" or in another way "he descended into the grave." (The Greek form has hades, which can mean just "grave", not geenna, "hell", place of punishment.")
There are verses that are used to support the phrase "he descended into hell," primarily Acts 2:27, Romans 10:6-7, Ephesian 4:8-9, 1 Peter 3:18-20, and 1 Peter 4:6. After reading these, none of them seem to support this phrase. Other interpretations seem to reflect more accurately the meaning of each passage rather than the idea that Jesus descended into hell after his death. One clear biblical verse that contradicts this idea of Jesus descending into hell is Luke 23:43 when Jesus is talking to the thief on the cross and says "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Jesus implies in this verse that his soul (spirit) will immediately go to be with the Father. This would mean that Jesus was not going to hell but to the Father.
Please comment or chat with me on this if you have a questions. If there are question I will be sure to look into them and try and provide an answer for the class.
References:
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
-The Atonement: f. Did Christ Descend Into Hell? (depending on the copy pg. 586)
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Post Lesson Notes:
- Definition of Existentialism: A philosophical movement embracing the view that the suffering individual must create meaning in an unknowable, chaotic, and seemingly empty universe.
- The Church of Oprah: here is a link to this video
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