tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246295430976433070.post4960002845618258619..comments2023-11-04T17:57:14.675-06:00Comments on Asleep No More: Did Jesus Go To Hell?Doug Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05318930961031654937noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246295430976433070.post-32626187095312074312016-03-23T10:35:40.216-06:002016-03-23T10:35:40.216-06:00There's a bunch of stuff that I dug up but lef...There's a bunch of stuff that I dug up but left out because I couldn't find good corroborating information - like what Jesus said to the spirits he spoke with. Some resources say it's a declaration of Victory "I won, you loose" kind of thing. Other sources say He collected the saints that died before him and took them to heaven. I didn't want to go too far out into the weeds fearing I'd end up like Joyce Meyer. Doug Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05318930961031654937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2246295430976433070.post-21686645869222691552016-03-23T08:29:12.654-06:002016-03-23T08:29:12.654-06:00William Barclay is known to be quite liberal in hi...William Barclay is known to be quite liberal in his theology, especially when it comes to giving natural explanations for many miracles. However, he is also known to be good when it comes to explaining the Greek language, the cultures of the time, as well as history. His excellent book, "The Apostles' Creed for Everyman," has some good understanding of this passage.<br /><br />To begin with, the passage about descending into Hell didn't show up in any credal statement until the "Symbol of Sirmium" in AD 359/360, and the first appearance of it in the "Apostles' Creed" was in 570. Between those dates it also showed up in the Athanasian Creed but not in the Nicene Creed.<br /><br />Barclay says the proper translation would be Hades, as with Acts 2:27 when quoting Psalm 16:10, and as you note it is the equivalent of Sheol, which simply means the land of the dead. And he notes that originally Hades is the name of the king of the land of the dead, and that's how he shows up in Revelation.<br /><br />By saying that Jesus descends to the place of the dead they were saying that he was really dead. He says that when Tyrannius Rufinus (AD340-410) wrote his commentary on the Roman creed he noted that the phrase was missing but that it didn't matter because it merely meant "dead and buried."<br /><br />Barclay's supporting passages that it is merely the land of the dead include those you cite. He points out the theology taught over those years was that the intention of the phrase was to demonstrate that Jesus was truly dead, and it was in response to those who claimed Jesus was too holy and divine to feel pain and death.<br /><br />Interesting is that cites that Calvin taught that Jesus did indeed go to Hell to bear the "penalties and the pains and the tortures and the punishments in our stead." Sounds much like Joyce Meyer's teaching (and that of other WOF heretics) which claims that Jesus went to hell and was beat up by the devil in order to pay for our sins. Glenn E. Chatfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117405535707961903noreply@blogger.com