An Orthodox Catechism

    Apostles’ Creed

    Related (16)

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), which expounds this clause

    Question 36

    What believest thou when thou sayest he suffered.

    That he all the time of his life which he lead in the Earth, but especially at the end thereof, sustained the wrath of God, both in body and soul, against the sin of mankind, that he might by his passion, as the only propitiatory sacrifice, deliver our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and purchase us the favour of God, righteousness, and everlasting life.

    Question 37

    For what cause should he suffer under Pilate, as being his Judg?

    That he being innocent and condemned before a civil Judg might deliver us from the severe Judgment of God which remained for all men.

    Question 38

    But is there any more in it, that he was fastened to the Cross, than if he had suffered any other kind of death?

    There is more: for by this I am assured that he took upon himself the curse which did ly on me; for the death of the Cross was accursed of God.

    Question 39

    Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself unto death?

    Because the Justice and Truth of God could by no other means be satisfied for our sins, but by the very death of the Son of God.

    Question 40

    To what end was he buried also?

    That thereby he might manifest that he was dead indeed.

    Question 41

    But since that Christ died for us, why must we also die?

    Our death is not a satisfaction for our Sins, but the abolishing of Sin, and our passage into everlasting Life.

    Question 42

    What other commodity receive we by the Death of Christ?

    That by the virtue of his Death our old man is crucified, slain, and buried together with him, (figured out in holy Baptism) that henceforth evil lusts and desires may not reign in us, but we may offer our selves unto him a Sacrifice of thanksgiving.

    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*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.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), which expounds this clause

    Question 37

    What dost thou understand by the words “He suffered?”

    That he, all the time that he lived on earth, but especially at the end of his life, sustained in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sins of all mankind: that so by his passion, as the only propitiatory sacrifice, he might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation, and obtain for us the favour of God, righteousness and eternal life.

    Question 38

    Why did he suffer under Pontius Pilate, as his judge?

    That he, being innocent, and yet condemned by a temporal judge, might thereby free us from the severe judgment of God to which we were exposed.

    Question 39

    Is there any thing more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death?

    Yes [there is]; for thereby I am assured, that he took on him the curse which lay upon me; for the death of the cross was accursed of God.

    Question 40

    Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death?

    Because with respect to the justice and truth of God, satisfaction for our sins could be made no otherwise, than by the death of the Son of God.

    Question 41

    Why was he also “buried?”

    Thereby to prove that he was really dead.

    Question 42

    Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?

    Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but only an abolishing of sin, and a passage into eternal life.

    Question 43

    What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

    That by virtue thereof, our old man is crucified, dead, and buried with him; that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us; but that we may offer ourselves unto him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

    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.

    Commentaries (18)