117 – Descent Into Hell

DESCENT INTO HELL

§ 117. Christ’s descent into hell was that act by which the God-man,1 Christ glorified,2 according to His human nature 3 after its quickening in the tomb,4 appeared in the prison of condemned spirits, 5 a herald of their judgment and His victory.6

1. Christ’s descent into hell was that act by which the God-man

I Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit.

2. Christ glorified

Philippians 2:9–11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit. Cf. I Peter 1:3–9  2:11–12  3:9, 16  4:12–14, 19  5:3, 5–6, 10 —texts showing that in the kingdom of Christ the way to glory is through suffering, and that glory will follow the cross.

I Peter 3:19 By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison. Cf. v. 21, 22.

3. according to His human nature

I Peter 3:18–19 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit: by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

4.  after its quickening in the tomb

I Peter 3:18–19. See above.

5.  appeared in the prison of condemned spirits

I Peter 3:19–20 By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

Luke 16:22–23 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

6.  a herald of their judgment and His victory

I Peter 3:19–20 By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Revelation 1:18 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.