But what does it mean "He descended into Hades", Frank?

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But what does it mean "He descended into Hades", Frank?

Forum: Theological Expressions
Re:

Lord Jesus went to Hell. (frankie lee)
Re:

The Apostles Creed - Back to Exegesis (Christopher Yip)
Re:

Our Lord Jesus went to Hell. (frankie lee)
Re:

Frank, you need more exegesis and exposition. (Christopher Yip)
Re:

SMS for now. (frankielee)
Date: 2001, Jul 14
From: Christopher Yip CKHY

Frank,
Neither Charles Buntin nor I deny that the Apostles' Creed descent article is a biblical statement. Can you stop for a minute and listen?
I have said that the descent article, although a later addition to the Creed, is nevertheless based on Scriptures. It is the stringing together of a few biblical passages. That much is true. The question you have to ask yourself is this - did the Apostles' Creed come down to us with a commentary that explains each article? It doesn't, Frank. It simply states that "He descended into Hades."
Where then do we turn to for an understanding of this phrase? Of course to the passages alluded by this phrase! That's is what I offered by posting Buntin's and Calvin's article.
Let me recapitulate. Calvin understands this phrase to mean Jesus went to hell-gehenna in our place and this occurs BEFORE the burial. Why, then, did this article come AFTER the article "(crucified, dead and) was buried" if it is supposed to refer to an event BEFORE the burial? Calvin thinks that it is because the Creed was giving the view of Christ's substitutionary death from two angles - one from the visible and the other the invisible. What was seen by men was the part of "crucified, dead and was buried", and what was not seen by men was the part that "He descended into Hades". In other words, what was interpreted by man as a death of a common criminal was interpreted by the Creed as having salvific meaning. Can you grasp this Frank?
In this case, Calvin offers only the interpretation of this creedal phrase but he does not say the whereabouts of Jesus between his burial and his resurrection. Philip Schaff and Charles Buntin, on the other hand, interpret the various verses and conclude that Jesus was in paradise, heaven, and not in Hades, freeing the OT saints. This is not a conclusion plucked from the air, Frank. It is arrived at by looking at Scriptures, interpreting Scriptures.
If you disagree, you can only credible by interpreting the key passages, exegeting them grammatically, lexically and historically; and not by shouting down fire and brimstone and judgement. This is what I am asking you to do, Frank. For instance, you said your view has been the view since time past. Could you tell me who, when, why and how? You said that the descent article in the Creed means what you said it means, I'd like to know on what basis do you make such an assertion?
Can you do that, Frank, without calling down hell-fire on me? Would appreciate some decent civilised dialogue for a change from the recent spate of ad hom and insanity.
Christopher