Pastor Al Q&A - Apostle's Creed

Why does the Apostle's Creed say that Jesus went to hell after He was on the cross? What did we say? We said He didn't. Why?

Because He said to the criminal on the cross that he would be with Him today in paradise.

Correct. And why did we say that? Why did that happen? Because He's one with God, when He died, he went to be with God, and there's no separation between them. So, why does the Apostle's Creed say He went to hell? Anybody have any idea? I know it's been a long time. Yes.

The Apostles Creed says He went to hell because he took all of our sins, and our punishment, as a whole humanity, was to go to hell.

Sure, and that's, we all believe that. That's correct. And yet, the Apostle's Creed implies that He spent three days in hell. And we would say that He endured hell on the cross when He said, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me." Why would the Apostle's Creed say He went to three days to hell, instead of going to be with the Father immediately as implied by, "Today you will be with Me in paradise"? Well, there's one verse, I think, probably is most connected with that. In Ephesians, chapter four, it says this, "to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
'WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.'
(Now this expression, 'He ascended,' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)" So, where did He go? What does this passage say? This is Ephesians 4:7-10. What did it say? Where did He descend to? The lower parts of the earth. What does that mean when he says that? Does that mean He went to hell, which is typically pictured as being under the earth. That is, you could see how that could be the lower parts of the earth, right? Is that what it means, He went to hell?

I think this is where the Apostle's Creed probably gets…, there's a few other passages that might reflect on something like that. But here's what I think this passage means and why they misunderstood it. It doesn't mean, when it says, "lower parts 'of the earth,'" I don't think it means that you went down "into" the earth, but that you went to the "lower parts" which are "the earth." It's that kind of phrase. Cause that's what happened, isn't it? He was in heaven, and He descended, to where? Earth. And then, He did what? He did His work on the cross, and then what did He do? He ascended back up to heaven, didn’t he? And this passage is talking about, after that work, after He ascended, He gave gifts to man, and particularly, gift of people who work in the Church. And so, what He's talking about there is work being accomplished, then He gave gifts to the Church.

And so, if you believe that this passage means that He went down into the earth and to hell, then it doesn't ever talk about Him descending from heaven to earth. And I think it really means He descended from heaven, to earth, did His work, and then ascended back up into heaven. And that was more consistent with what I think He said on the cross.