Did Jesus descend into Hell?
Scripture shows he did but, when is not clear. I came across this very interesting study while researching for the answer. I'm not a theologian so i can't very well say if what is said in this study is completely accurate but it does seem to answer a few question...for me, anyway. However, the part you'll come to if you study this material which says Jesus didn't preach to spirits in prison is touchy because I have about 7 translations of the bible and all of them seem to be clear Jesus went and preached to spirits in prison rather than to people before they died and went to "prison".
It is presented in a way that can support the idea, though.
Also, the part about, "but we can come to Him, receive Him", I don't believe or condone. Every part of our salvation is the work of God, even our faith. He calls us, we don't call him. He calls us through his word. That makes us alive in Christ. If after a person has been made alive in Christ; is a believer and has faith, they want to believe they come to him, that is possible. But they have no part or credit or glory in helping God make them alive.
After all, it says "we are *dead* in our sins and transgressions". The next time you come across a dead animal...in the road or wherever...expect it to make a move to you and then you'll help it be alive. Of course, if it makes a move toward you, it wasn't ever dead, was it? Nevertheless....
Have a gander:
EDIT -
Also importantly, please note that "catholic" refers to "universal" rather than Roman. The Catholic church we know of is commonly known as what the Pope is overseeing. However, the Pope oversees the Roman church, not the universal..or catholic...church. Catholic means universal Christian church. The Roman church is known as what we are used to, the Catholic church. When the creed, sited in this study, speaks of the catholic church, it is not speaking of the Roman...or Pope ruled...church, it is speaking of the universal Christian church which is made up of many denominations but is the invisible church of our savior. And the church of our Lord and savior is holy, he made it holy by his sacrifice. All who belong to the holy Christian (universal, catholic) church are holy. If Christ, who's righteousness we wear, is holy, we, his church, are holy.
http://www.ldolphin.org/descend.html
Scripture shows he did but, when is not clear. I came across this very interesting study while researching for the answer. I'm not a theologian so i can't very well say if what is said in this study is completely accurate but it does seem to answer a few question...for me, anyway. However, the part you'll come to if you study this material which says Jesus didn't preach to spirits in prison is touchy because I have about 7 translations of the bible and all of them seem to be clear Jesus went and preached to spirits in prison rather than to people before they died and went to "prison".
It is presented in a way that can support the idea, though.
Also, the part about, "but we can come to Him, receive Him", I don't believe or condone. Every part of our salvation is the work of God, even our faith. He calls us, we don't call him. He calls us through his word. That makes us alive in Christ. If after a person has been made alive in Christ; is a believer and has faith, they want to believe they come to him, that is possible. But they have no part or credit or glory in helping God make them alive.
After all, it says "we are *dead* in our sins and transgressions". The next time you come across a dead animal...in the road or wherever...expect it to make a move to you and then you'll help it be alive. Of course, if it makes a move toward you, it wasn't ever dead, was it? Nevertheless....
Have a gander:
EDIT -
Also importantly, please note that "catholic" refers to "universal" rather than Roman. The Catholic church we know of is commonly known as what the Pope is overseeing. However, the Pope oversees the Roman church, not the universal..or catholic...church. Catholic means universal Christian church. The Roman church is known as what we are used to, the Catholic church. When the creed, sited in this study, speaks of the catholic church, it is not speaking of the Roman...or Pope ruled...church, it is speaking of the universal Christian church which is made up of many denominations but is the invisible church of our savior. And the church of our Lord and savior is holy, he made it holy by his sacrifice. All who belong to the holy Christian (universal, catholic) church are holy. If Christ, who's righteousness we wear, is holy, we, his church, are holy.
http://www.ldolphin.org/descend.html