GroshLink

Recently I was asked for my thoughts on "He descended to the dead" in the Apostles Creed and how the line relates to 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:6.  Since I spent some time composing the email, I thought I'd share it on Groshlink.* I wonder if this may very well be one of the most difficult and disagreed upon textual/creedal question of all time.  Would love to receive your thoughts.  As you may know, I enjoy this kind of faith-doctrine-practice wrestling as we come to know "The Way. The Truth. The Life." more richly, transforming our daily life as the Body of Christ.

Musings ...

Quite honestly, since an early age I've taken the Apostles Creed as a clear statement of the Christian faith and to be embraced/accepted by faith "as is" by followers of Christ/members of the Body of Christ.**  I am a proponent of the importance of regularly affirming the Apostles Creed (and/or the Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed) in the context of morning worship to remind us of our identity in Christ. This should be supported by some teaching of the creeds and core denominational values during statement of faith/membership and the regular cycle of cradle-grave Christian education, including preaching -- note to pastors ;-)

I have read the line as "He descended to the dead," i.e., with the understanding of "hell" being "the realm of the dead"/"world of the dead" (i.e., Sheol/Hades). 

Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, died in human form and his imperishable spirit/Spirit descended to hell. The grace of the atonement occurs (is extended) on the cross.  The resurrection testifies to the Father's loving affirmation of the sinless nature of Christ's unique, complete atoning sacrifice and the assurance of salvation to all those "in Him."  But as Calvin argued it makes sense to me that in between the cross and the resurrection, Jesus the Christ/Son of God faced the temptation/challenge of death/hell (i.e., going beyond the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross).**  Whatever the case, death/hell could not keep our Lord and Savior.

As such Christus Victor brought forth from death/hell those who were reconciled "in Him" to God the Father (Isaiah 53), enabling them to enter the presence of God as the children of God/people of God.  Maybe in the realm of the spirit/Spirit, this occurred instantly (e.g., the statement Jesus makes on the cross to one of the thief that they would be in paradise the same day -- Luke 23:43) or in such a manner that to us it appears two stage (before resurrection, completed at the Ascension or the Last Day) but is not such in the realm of the Spirit/heavens.  None-the-less as I say above, some were raised to the heavenly realms.  Others who choose their way were consigned to judgment when the gates of hell/death' could not contain our Lord & Savior and the people of God.  Christ has died.  Christ has risen.  Christ will come again. 

I agree with the line of reasoning that the two texts from Peter describe different events which are separate from cross, death, resurrection.  1 Peter 3:18-20 refers to when Jesus the Christ/Son of God came in the Spirit (after being "made alive"), as such it is not referring to an events chronologically between the cross and resurrection (whatever chronology means in these realms).  The spirits in 1 Peter 3:18-20 may very well be what is considered by some to be imprisoned fallen angels based upon an interpretation of Genesis 6 (Note: this is a change of opinion since college, i.e., over the past 15 years).  Similar to I Thessalonians 4:13-18, the dead referred to in 1 Peter 4:6 are not spirits, but human beings who received the Gospel while living. 

In my imagination and embracing of the mystery of the work of God, I do not have a problem with the possibility of another opportunity being given to the dead, but I understand judgment to be based upon the 'light given and light received.'  The second preaching in the context of the dead makes most sense to me to be a liberation of those who are following God without full knowledge of Jesus the Christ/Son of God (including, but extending beyond the faithful members of the Old Covenant into the order of Melchizedek) and a confirmation of judgment upon those who have chosen their own path/gods including the spirits in prison.  The affirmation of judgment is an affirmation that Jesus the Christ/Son of God have chosen the proper path.  Their suffering, although at many times appears in vain, it is not in vain.  I'm not a fan of purgatory in any form, but C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce" is a compelling story which pulls at one's strings ;-)

Some have argued that "he descended into hell" is not original to the Apostles Creed and apparently it is rejected by Eastern Orthodoxy, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/asktheexpert/nov15.html.  I think it is good to keep as long as it doesn't come with unhelpful baggage.  Off the top of my head, the simplest interpretation of the line in the Apostles Creed, i.e, to be shared with children in the faith (whether young or old in years), is that Jesus the Christ/Son of God died in human form and journeyed to where the dead wait for the Last Day.*** 

Christ has died.  Christ has risen.  Christ will come again.

Now didn't Peter write that another apostle had some texts which were hard to understand ;-) 

Note 1:  As for interpretations of the passages in Peter I'd recommend Witherington's Commentary (InterVarsity Press, 2008, http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2933).  Sections can be found on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=4wsAWV501VoC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false.

Note 2:  McGrath's "I Believe:  Exploring the Apostles Creed" is good, brief walk through the Apostles Creed (InterVarsity Press, 1998), http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=1946.   

*If you're interested in broader/related aspects to the post, I'd encourage you to check out the new series on Scot McKnight's blog, http://www.patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/2010/10/15/those-who-never-hear-the-gospel-1/.
**That does not mean that I have embraced it fully since an early age, but that I've understood it to summarize the Christian faith in a simple, helpful manner. 
***We have little insight into this mystery.