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    Question 43

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    Section 1: Introduction

    Why is there added, he descended into Hell?

    That in my greatest pains and most grevious temptations I may support my self with this comfort, that my Lord Jesus Christa*1 hath delivered me (by the unspeakable distresses, torments and terrors of his Soul, into which he was plunged both before, and then especially when he hanged on the Cross) from the straits and torments of Hell.

    1. *1 Not that he (to wit, Christ) went into the Place of the damned, but that he went absolutely into the state of the dead. See Dr. Usher in his Body of Divinity, pag. 174. and Mr. Perkins, on the Creed.

    Why is there added, he descended into Hell?

    That in my greatest pains and most grievous temptations I may support my self with this comfort, that my Lord Jesus Christa*1 has delivered me (by the unspeakable distresses, torments and terrors of his Soul, into which he was plunged both before, and then especially when he hanged on the Cross) from the straits and torments of Hell.

    1. *1 Not that he (to wit, Christ) went into the Place of the damned, but that he went absolutely into the state of the dead. See Dr. Usher in his Body of Divinity, pag. 174. and Mr. Perkins, on the Creed.
    1. a. Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 27:46

      Isaiah 53:10

      53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

      53:10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

      Matthew 27:46

      27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

      27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

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    Changes from Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 44

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 44

    Why is there added, he descended into Hell?

    That in my greatest pains and most grevious temptations I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in support my self with this comfort, that my Lord Jesus Christ hath delivered me (by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, hellish agonies, in the unspeakable distresses, torments and terrors of his Soul, into which he was plunged during all his sufferings, but both before, and then especially when he hanged on the Cross) hath delivered me from the anguish straits and torments of Hell.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 44

    Why is there added, “he descended into hell?”

    That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was plunged during all his sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 43

    Why is there added, he descended into Hell?

    That in my greatest pains and most grevious temptations I may support my self with this comfort, that my Lord Jesus Christ hath delivered me (by the unspeakable distresses, torments and terrors of his Soul, into which he was plunged both before, and then especially when he hanged on the Cross) from the straits and torments of Hell.

    Related (1)

    Apostles’ Creed, which this question expounds

    Clause 4

    Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried, He descended into hell;

    Commentaries (5)