Michael Brooks
The Apostles' Creed, which is often recited by Catholics, states that after his crucifixion, Jesus descended into hell and rose again. This has sparked curiosity among worshippers about what this affirmation means and whether Jesus truly went to hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that hell in this context is not the same as the hell of eternal damnation that we understand today. Instead, it refers to Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek, the abode of all dead souls before Christ's death and resurrection. According to Catholic belief, Jesus descended into this realm of the dead, not to deliver the damned but to free the righteous souls who were awaiting salvation. This event, also known as the harrowing of hell, is believed to have brought the Gospel message of salvation to completion and demonstrated the reality of Christ's death and resurrection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mentioned in | Apostles' Creed, New Testament |
| Hell referred to as | Sheol (Hebrew), Hades (Greek), abode of the dead |
| Purpose of descent | To free the just, preach the Gospel to the dead, proclaim his victory over death, bring hope to purgatory |
| Nature of descent | Metaphysical complement to the burial of Christ's body |
| Limbo | A state of perfect contentment, inhabited by righteous souls |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Apostles' Creed
> I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the head of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
The phrase "descended into hell" in the Apostles' Creed refers to the belief that after his death, Jesus went to the abode of the dead, or Sheol in Hebrew and Hades in Greek. This does not refer to hell as the place of the Devil and the damned, but rather to the realm where Jesus, like all men, experienced death and joined others in the realm of the dead. He went there as the Saviour, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there. This was understood as the completion of the Gospel message of salvation and the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission.
Encouraging Catholic Vocations: How to Best Support Them
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The meaning of 'hell'
The concept of hell has been interpreted in various ways by different religions and cultures. In religion and folklore, hell is often depicted as a location or state in the afterlife where souls are subjected to punishment for eternity after death. This idea of hell is present in some versions of Christianity and Islam, where it is believed to be located in another dimension or under the Earth's surface.
In the Jewish concept of Sheol, expressed in Ecclesiastes, it is believed to be a place where there is no activity, and both the righteous and the wicked eventually wind up. According to Jewish teachings, hell is not a physical place, but rather a very intense feeling of shame for one's misdeeds, constituting suffering that makes up for bad deeds. Many scholars of Jewish mysticism describe seven "compartments" or "habitations" of hell.
In early Christianity, hell had two meanings. On one hand, it was the place of the damned, where those who had rejected all that is good and just were condemned to an eternity without God. On the other hand, it was also understood as the abode of the dead, or "Sheol" in Hebrew, and "Hades" in Greek, where those who have died are deprived of the vision of God. This interpretation is supported by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that Jesus, like all men, experienced death and joined others in the realm of the dead, but as the Savior, he went to spread the Gospel and bring salvation to those imprisoned there.
Hell is also used metaphorically to describe an extremely unpleasant or difficult place, situation, or experience. For example, someone might say, "Living with the disease is a hell on earth," indicating that their life has become extremely challenging due to their illness.
Communion and Ash Wednesday: Catholic Practice Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Jesus's soul went to hell
The Apostles' Creed, which is often recited by Catholics, states that after his death, Jesus "descended into hell and rose again". However, this "hell" is not the same as the hell of eternal damnation that we understand today. Instead, it refers to Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek—the abode of all dead souls, including those who were on their way to heaven but couldn't enter until Christ's salvific work was completed.
According to Catholic belief, hell is split into two spheres. The first, known as Gehenna in the New Testament, is the abode of Satan and his demons, along with human souls who have rejected God. Jesus did not visit this part of hell because these souls had definitively rejected God, and there was nothing he could do for them.
The second sphere of hell, by contrast, was composed of those souls who were on their way to heaven but couldn't enter until Christ's work was finished. This sphere was further divided into two parts: limbo (also known as Abraham's bosom) and purgatory. Limbo was inhabited by righteous souls who were cleansed of actual sin but still bore the stain of original sin, while purgatory was a state of painful purification for souls who retained an attachment to sin.
Jesus descended into limbo, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there and freeing them from their bonds. This act brought the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment, demonstrating that Christ's redemptive work was for all people of all times and places.
The idea of Jesus descending into hell also demonstrates the reality of his death on the cross. As Aquinas explains, Christ's descent into hell is the metaphysical complement to the burial of his body. By dying, Christ fully experienced the consequences of human death, including the separation of his soul from his body, with his soul going to hell.
Who Are the 144,000 Chosen Ones in Catholicism?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Jesus did not visit the souls of the damned
The Apostles' Creed, a Christian statement of faith, states that Jesus "descended into hell and rose again" after his death. However, the "hell" mentioned in the Apostles' Creed is not the same as the traditional understanding of hell as the eternal abode of the damned.
In the context of the Apostles' Creed, "hell" refers to the abode of the dead, also known as Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek. This realm included the souls of the damned but was not limited to them. According to Catholic belief, hell is split into two spheres: gehenna, the abode of Satan and the damned, and purgatory, inhabited by souls who cooperated with God but retained an attachment to sin. Limbo, a state of perfect contentment for righteous souls, was also a part of this second sphere.
When Jesus descended into hell, he did not visit the souls of the damned in gehenna. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him." Jesus went to limbo to proclaim the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there and to free the holy fathers who did not have the sacrament of baptism to erase their original sin.
Jesus's descent into hell brought consolation to the souls in purgatory as well. It signified that the doors of heaven were now open to them once their purifications were complete. Thus, Jesus's descent into hell was a crucial part of his messianic mission, bringing the Gospel message of salvation to completion.
In conclusion, while the Apostles' Creed states that Jesus descended into hell, it is important to understand that this does not refer to the traditional understanding of hell as the abode of the damned. Jesus did not visit the souls in gehenna but rather went to the realm of the dead, including limbo and purgatory, to proclaim his victory over death and offer salvation to those who had gone before him.
Communist China's Catholic Persecution Deaths
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Jesus's descent into hell brought hope
The Apostles' Creed, which is often recited by Catholics, mentions that after his death, Jesus "descended into hell and rose again". This has prompted many to question the meaning of this affirmation, and whether Jesus truly went to hell in the common understanding of the word.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the word "hell" in the Apostles' Creed is not the same as the typical modern understanding of "hell". Instead, it refers to "Sheol" in Hebrew or "Hades" in Greek—the abode of all dead souls, including both the righteous and the wicked, before Christ's resurrection. Christ's descent into this realm of the dead is known as the Harrowing of Hell.
According to Catholic belief, hell is divided into two spheres. The first sphere, known as "gehenna" in the New Testament, is the abode of Satan and the damned, where human souls suffer eternal punishment for their sins. This is the hell commonly understood today. The second sphere, on the other hand, was composed of souls who were awaiting entry into heaven because Christ's salvific work—His Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension—had not yet been completed. This second sphere was further divided into "limbo" and "purgatory". Limbo was a state of perfect contentment inhabited by righteous souls who were cleansed of actual sin but still bore the stain of original sin. Purgatory, on the other hand, was a state of painful purification for souls who cooperated with God's grace but retained an attachment to sin.
Jesus descended into the first and second spheres of hell, but not into gehenna, the abode of the damned. He did not come to save the damned, for they had already definitively rejected God, but rather "to free the just who had gone before him" (Catechism §633). By descending into hell, Jesus brought hope and victory to the souls in purgatory, assuring them that heaven's doors would open to them once their purifications were complete. He also liberated the holy fathers in limbo, ending their state of limbo and allowing them to enter heaven with Him during His Ascension.
Jesus's descent into hell thus fulfilled multiple purposes. It brought the Gospel message of salvation to completion, extending Christ's proclamation of power and victory over death to all people of all times and places. It also demonstrated the reality of Christ's death and served as a metaphysical complement to the burial of His body, with his soul going to hell while his body lay in the tomb.
Confession's Appeal: How Many Catholics Go?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Apostles' Creed uses "hell" in a broader sense than the understanding of the word today. In ancient Jewish thought, "hell" was the realm of the dead.
Yes, Jesus descended into hell, but not into the hell of eternal damnation. He descended into the abode of all dead souls, also known as Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek.
Jesus descended into hell to preach the Gospel to the dead and to free the just souls who had gone before him. He also brought hope of salvation to the souls in purgatory.
It is not clear why this phrase is only mentioned in the Apostles' Creed and not in the Nicene Creed. One possible reason could be to avoid confusion among believers if the phrase was not properly explained.
In the Bible, there are several references to Christ's death and descent. For example, in Matthew 12:40, Christ mentions lying in the heart of the earth for three days, which is interpreted as a reference to hell. Ephesians 4:9 speaks of descending into "the lower regions of the earth" before ascension, and 1 Peter 4:6 refers to proclaiming the gospel to the dead.
