A Survey Through The Heidelberg Catechism LORD’S DAY #16

The Apostles Creed  Evidence in Apostolic Fathers of creedal formulas emerging early and locally,  Finally coalescing in the beginning of the 2 nd c. with the Old Roman Symbol, a common confession used prior to becoming a member of the church.  References in writings appear in the 4 th c. to the Apostles’ Creed  “Accepted version” might not have been complete until the 6 th c. when “descended into hell” consistently appears, along with other phrases such as “life everlasting”.

In the East: Jesus rescuing Adam and Eve from Hades in the Church of the Holy Redeemer in the Fields, outside Constantinople, early 5 th c.

“He descended into hell.” On the cross and up to death.  Reformed and Presbyterian  Protestants in general (?) Hence, a summary and comprehensive statement. After death and before the resurrection.  Greek Orthodox  Roman Catholic  Lutheran Hence, a continuing, sequential statement.

Luke 23:42-43, ESV And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

1 Peter 3:18-22 – Limbo? For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

John Calvin: The point is that the Creed sets forth what Christ suffered in the sight of men, and then appositely speaks of that invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he underwent in the sight of God in order that we might know not only that Christ’s body was given as the price of our redemption, but that he paid a greater and more excellent price in suffering in his soul the terrible torments of a condemned and forsaken man.

Calvin’s point: I believe … 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; (all as to his visible, physical suffering) he descended into hell; (encompassing his physical as well as his invisible suffering under God the Father’s wrath for all his people.)

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