He Descended Into Hell

The Apostles Creed is one of two creeds that professes the essential beliefs of Christianity. Its source is garnered from the earliest Creeds. The other creed is the Nicene Creed. In one English wording of the Apostle’s Creed the phrase “He descended into Hell,” is used. 

A question may be raised regarding this phrase as to, what is meant by this phrase. Especially, if a soul enters Hell it never gets out for all eternity, why is Jesus going into Hell? 

The Short explanation

The explanation for the use of the phrase “He descended into Hell,” is more a vernacular question than a theological question.  The word “Hell” in English as it is used in this prayer, is a word use that is left over from an older version of the English Language (Old English). 

When the word is used in the Creed it is not referring to “Eternal Hell Fire” where the damned go with Satan and His minions. It refers to a place where all the righteous souls of the Old Testament waited for Christ’s Sacrifice which was needed in order to open the Gates of Heaven. These souls were not in heaven participating in the full beatific vision of God. Nor were these souls in Hell (Fire). They existed in a Middle place awaiting Christ’s coming through His sacrifice on the Cross. 

The earliest Christianity uses a word from the Greek katôtata, which means “lowest.” And was the most appropriate word which could be used for “a place for the dead.” In later centuries this is translated to the word Hades and then in later Old English to Hell. In all these translations the interpretation always referred to a place or abode of the dead. 

The Greek τὰ κατώτατα (ta katôtata, "the lowest") and later the Latin translation 'inferos' ("those below") may also be translated as "underworld", "netherworld", or "abode of the dead."  The Latin word used to imply "the place of the damned" would be 'infernos.'  When Infernos was translated into Old English, often the word Tartars was used.

Recent wording of the Apostles Creed contains the wording “He descended to the Dead.” This more current vernacular speaks more to the intended design of the creed for current English speakers. Remember, Christianity has been around for about 2000 years. Its formal beliefs were translated into many tongues throughout the ages. Often the inference of words in some of these languages change over time.  When this occurs, local Bishops must put in place a more current word that implies the correct meaning.

Change in the English language is why the writing of Shakespeare, written in Old English, is difficult to understand when read verbatim. The English Language is a preponderance of many tongues and influences and has had the inference of many words changed. 

A Longer Explanation

The wording “He descended into Hell,” found in the Apostles Creed has more to do with the use of the English Language. The explanation of this phrase begins as a vernacular lesson before any theological explanation. The use of the word “Hell” in the English wording is left over from the word’s usage in older version of the English Language (Old English). 

Getting to the proper etymology[1] for use in the English,  refers first to the early council's profession and the language which was originally used which would have been the Greek. The English translation comes from the Greek use and subsequently from Latin. The Greek wording in the Apostles' Creed is κατελθόντα εἰς τὰ κατώτατα, ("katelthonta eis ta katôtata"). This wording refers to a place of the dead and comes from the Greek τὰ κατώτατα (ta katôtata,"the lowest"). 

The Greek τὰ κατώτατα (ta katôtata,"the lowest"), refers more to the current use of the English word Hades. This word was used by the church to mean a place of the dead but not heaven and not necessarily "Hell fire". In classic Greek, Hades is the underworld inhabited by departed souls and the god Pluto is its ruler. The New Testament uses the term "Hades"[2] or “Netherworld”[3] to refer to the abode or state of the dead[4]. However, In the New Testament it can also refer to eternal damnation.[5] 

The Latin translation which follows from the Greek uses the word inferos to translate from the Greek katôtata." Infero (the singular) means “lower.” It’s plural form inferos refers to persons ("those below") and may also be translated as "underworld", "netherworld", or "abode of the dead."

The Latin word used to imply "the place of the damned" would be 'infernos.' The Latin does not use the word infernos in the Creed. Infernos is a different word implying a place of the lowest region but was reserved to imply Hell fire a place where the damned and demons are sent. When Infernos was translated into Old English, often the word Tartars was used.

More recent wording of the Apostles Creed uses, “He descended to the Dead.” This wording speaks more to the intended design of the creed for English speakers. Remember, Christianity has been around for about 2000 years. Its formal beliefs were translated into many tongues throughout the ages. Often the inference of words in some of these languages change over time. 

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[1] Etemology :  the study and investigation of the origin of words in a particular language. An example of etymology is the word trivial which stems from the Latin word trivium
[3] Hades is used in the King James version from the Old English.
[2] Netherworld is used in the New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and St. Joseph New Catholic Bible
[4] Acts 2:26-27 : 26  Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;    my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,   27   because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,  nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.  
[5]  Luke  16:22 – 24:   22  When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23  and from the netherworld,  where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24  And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ 

Why Did Jesus Descend to the Dead?

At the Crucifixion, upon Jesus expiration on the cross he went first to the place of the dead. A place where all the “righteous” souls were waiting for the Gates of Heaven to be Opened. Jesus went there to bring into fulfillment the good news (Gospel) of Salvation.[1] 

The First Epistle of St. Peter intimate this when He says:

18  For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.

19  In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
St. Peter 3:18-19

Here it draws a question who the spirits might be that Christ preached to. However, it begs the question whether any profit would be gained from preaching to damned souls and demons in Hellfire. The Catechism teaches these spirits could be the ones awaiting to get into heaven.[2] 

CCC 636  By the expression "He descended into hell", the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil "who has the power of death" (Heb 2:14). 

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[1] CCC 634 "The gospel was preached even to the dead."  The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfilment. This is the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

[2] CCC 635  Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."  Jesus, "the Author of life", by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage."  Henceforth the risen Christ holds "the keys of Death and Hades", so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."