<> Ask the Pastor Pastor Walter Snyder Q: A friend and I were discussing the other day Christ's descent into hell. She is a fairly new believer of a different denomination, and asked what I knew about this topic. I told her I know it happened, and that we confess it in our creed, and that our creed is based upon the Scriptures. However, I wasn't sure what passages discussed this part of Christ's exaltation. I also explained that I believe Christ went down to hell in His glorified body to proclaim His victory to the lost souls in hell. The only support passage I could find in this search was 2 Peter 3:18-19. My question is, isn't there more Scriptural support of this fact? Being that it was important enough to be included in our creeds--our statements of faith--I thought surely there would be more Biblical support and explanation of this fact. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. A: I quoted most of your question because you sum up most of what we know and teach about Christ's descent into hell. As I noted in a column of over a year ago, this descent was obviously not into punishment, but was as you have noted a victory parade. I researched the Savior's descent into hell in some of my resources. The "Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church" by F. Bente, which preface the Triglot edition of the Lutheran Book of Concord, were of special help. Bente points us to the Ninth Article of the Formula of Concord and to a 1533 sermon delivered by Martin Luther in the city of Torgau. According to medieval theologians the descent into hell was regarded as an act by which Christ, with His soul only, entered the abode of the dead. According to Calvin and the Reformed generally the descent into hell is but a figurative expression for the sufferings of Christ, particularly of His soul, on the cross. Martin Luther taught following the Scriptures that Christ the God-man, body and soul, descended into hell as Victor over Satan and his host. With special reference to Ps. 16:10 and Acts 2:24-27, Luther explained in his Torgau sermon: "After His burial the whole person of Christ, the God-man, descended into hell, conquered the devil, and destroyed the power of hell and Satan. The mode and manner, however, in which this was done can no more be comprehended by human reason than His sitting at the right hand of the Father, and must therefore not be investigated, but believed and accepted in simple faith. It is sufficient if we retain the consolation that neither hell nor devil are any longer able to harm us." Accordingly, Luther did not regard the descent into hell as an act belonging to the state of humiliation, by which He paid the penalty for our sins. Rather it was an act of exaltation, in which Christ, as it were, plucked for us the fruits of His sufferings which were finished when He died upon the cross. Luther continued later in his sermon: "Such, therefore is the plainest manner to speak of this article, that we may adhere to the words and cling to this main point, that for us, through Christ, hell has been torn to pieces and the devil's kingdom and power utterly destroyed, for which purpose He died, was buried, and descended,--so that it should no longer harm or overwhelm us, as He Himself says, Matt. 16:18...." For as Christ here speaks of his church, even the gates of hell cannot prevail over it. Why? Because he has prevailed over them! This remains the hope of the Christian faith, that the power of sin, death, and devil cannot hold us who believe in their Conqueror. If you have access to the Lutheran Book of Concord, you can read the Formula of Concord's expression of this doctrine of comfort for yourself. Until next week, when, Lord willing, we enjoy more of your questions, remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Pastor Snyder serves St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville, Texas and is the coauthor of "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1997 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.