Did Christ Preach in Hell Before His Resurrection? - I Peter 3.19

I asked the class tonight this question;"Where do we find this passage;

"(He) was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he arose for the dead."?  

I had several answers; "Corinthians."  "Psalms."  A third person gave a 3rd book.  Granted I used the word "passage."  But...the passages is not from the Bible.  It simply is not there.  It sounds Bible.  But is it?  No..it is not.  It is not from the Bible and it is not a biblical statement.  The passage is found in "The Apostles Creed," a man made document.

Please find below a copy of our lesson sheet AND a copy of my answer sheet so you can share this info with either a class you, your elders or your gospel preacher can present to the congregation where you attend.

Did Christ Preach in Hell on Saturday?

Archdale church of Christ / Russ McCullough – 14 June 2017

I Peter 3.19 Question

1.      Where do we find this statement; “(He) was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he arose from the dead.”?

2.      What was generally believed by people in Catholic Europe during the middle ages? 

3.      This L____________ dates back to the _______ century based upon a book known as P____________ Augustine who allegedly says in a sermon that the A___________ C___________ was given by the “inspiration of the Holy Spirit” to each of the 12 A_____________ who each wrote a 1/12 of the creed.  Augustine uses as a S_________ that this was asserted by St. A_____________ in the ________ century. 

4.      The CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA cites at least ________ versions of the creed.  There are 3 versions of the Old R_____________ Creed as supposedly quoted by Tertullian as well as _______ more “modern” versions.

5.      “What saith the Scriptures?”

6.      The traditional interpretation of I Peter 3.19 is that while in the tomb on S_______________ Christ went to H________ and preached to the OT S_________ so as to set them F_________.  This is generally held to be true by C_____________, most P_____________ and most members of the L_______ C__________ as well.

7.      This traditional approach is based on 2 passages: I Peter 3.18 – 20 & I Peter 4.4 – 6.

8.      There are two            questions we must ask of these texts: 1) Where does it say in the text that Christ went to hell?  2) “IF” He did, where does it say in the text that He went to Hell while in the Tomb?

9.      The context for I Peter 3.18 – 20 spans vs.13 – 21.  The focus of the overall text is not H_________, not those who are D_____________ but instead it is about B____________.  The portion of the text regarding the “spirits in prison” is A__________ and not P______________.

10.  The key to this auxiliary portion is found in vs. 3 as well as in vs. 1.10 – 11.

11.  Conclusion: Christ did not go to H__________ on S_____________.  He did not literally preach to anyone while in H_________ so that they might have a 2^nd C___________.  He did C_________________ to the dead but did so while they were A__________ by the same Spirit that raised Him from the D___________, a Spirit that was, is, and shall be O_________________.  We cannot interpret Scripture by way of medieval C______________ creeds and D_____________.

Public Domain Image Courtesy of Wikipdia.org

1.      Where do we find this statement; “(He) was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he arose from the dead.”?

2.      What was generally believed by people in Catholic Europe during the middle ages? 

3.      This LEGEND dates back to the SIXTH century based upon a book known as PSEUDO Augustine who allegedly says in a sermon that the APOSTLES CREED was given by the “inspiration of the Holy Spirit” to each of the 12 APOSTLES who each wrote a 1/12 of the creed.  Augustine uses as a SERMON that this was asserted by St. AMBROSE in the FOURTH century. 

4.      The CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA cites at least FIVE versions of the creed.  There are 3 versions of the Old ROMAN Creed as supposedly quoted by Tertullian as well as TWO more “modern” versions.

5.      “What saith the Scriptures?”

6.      The traditional interpretation of I Peter 3.19 is that while in the tomb on SATURDAY Christ went to HELL and preached to the OT SAINTS so as to set them FREE.  This is generally held to be true by CATHOLICS, most PROTESTANTS, and most members of the LORD’S CHURCH   as well.

7.      This traditional approach is based on 2 passages: I Peter 3.18 – 20 & I Peter 4.4 – 6.

8.      There are two questions we must ask of these texts: 1) Where does it say in the text that Christ went to hell?  2) “IF” He did, where does it say in the text that He went to Hell while in the Tomb?

9.      The context for I Peter 3.18 – 20 spans vs.13 – 21.  The focus of the overall text is not HELL, not those who are DEAD but instead it is about BAPTISM.  The portion of the text regarding the “spirits in prison” is AUXILLARY and not PRIMARY.

10.  The key to this auxiliary portion is found in vs. 3 as well as in vs. 1.10 – 11.

11.  Conclusion: Christ did not go to HELL on SATURDAY.  He did not literally preach to anyone while in HELL so that they might have a 2^nd  CHANCE.  He did COMMUNICATE to the dead but did so while they were ALIVE by the same Spirit that raised Him from the DEAD, a Spirit that was, is, and shall be  OMNIPRESENT.  We cannot interpret Scripture by way of medieval CATHOLIC creeds and DOGMAS .

Public Domain Image Courtesy of Wikipdia.org

Sources Consulted:

Primary: 

     I Peter 3, 4 - ESV (English Standard Version)

Secondary:

     THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA via wikipedia.org

     Piper, John ("Did Jesus Spend Saturday in Hell?" in the blog; DESIRING GOD, March 22,          2008