IX. De Descensu Christi ad Inferos
The Controversy Over Christ's Descent
The article of Christ's descent to the dead has been disputed among theologians of the Augustana Confession regarding its timing, manner, and whether it belongs to his passion or his triumph.
The state of the controversy. There has been dispute over this article among certain theologians who profess the Augustana Confession: when, and how, our Lord Jesus Christ descended to the dead, as our catholic faith testifies; and whether this was done before or after his death. Furthermore, it has been asked whether he descended in his soul only, or in his divinity alone, or indeed in both soul and body; and whether this was done spiritually or indeed bodily. It has also been disputed whether this article is to be referred to Christ's passion, or indeed to his glorious victory and triumph.
A Call to Simple Faith
Because this article cannot be grasped by reason but must be received by faith alone, the confession urges believers to follow Luther's pious teaching and set aside curious disputation.
Since this article of our faith, just like the one before it, can't be grasped by our senses or by our reason, but must be received by faith alone, we unanimously agree that this matter shouldn't be debated, but that this article should be believed and taught as simply as possible. And in this matter let us follow the pious teaching of Luther, who explained this article in a sermon delivered at Torgau (in the year etc.), 33.) thoroughly and piously, cut off every useless and inquisitive question, and urged all Christians toward the simple faith of the gospel.
What Faith Must Hold
It is enough to believe that Christ descended, destroyed hell for believers, and rescued us from death, Satan, and damnation, reserving fuller knowledge of the mystery for the age to come.
It should be enough for us to know that Christ descended into the realm of the dead, destroyed hell for all who believe, and that through him we were rescued from the power of death and of Satan, from eternal damnation, and indeed snatched from the very jaws of hell.✦ But however these things were brought about, let us not examine them curiously; instead, let us reserve knowledge of this matter for another age, where not only this mystery but many other things too, believed by us in simplicity in this life, will be revealed — things that exceed the reach of our blind reason.✦
Read the original Latin
Status controversiae. Disceptatum fuit super hoc articulo inter quosdam Theologos, qui Augustanam Confessionem profitentur: quando, et quomodo Dominus noster Iesus Christus, ut testatur fides nostra Catholica, ad inferos descenderit: an id ante vel post mortem eius factum sit. Praeterea quaesitum fuit, num anima tantum, an divinitate sola, an vero anima et corpore descenderit: idque an spiritualiter, an vero corporaliter sit factum. Disputatum etiam est, num hic articulus ad passionem, an vero ad gloriosam victoriam et triumphum Christi sit referendus.
Cum autem hic fidei nostrae articulus, sicut et praecedens, neque sensibus neque ratione nostra comprehendi queat: sola autem fide acceptandus sit: unanimi consensu consulimus, de hac re non esse disputandum, sed quam simplicissime hunc articulum credendum et docendum esse. Atque in hoc negotio sequamur piam D. Lutheri doctrinam: qui hunc articulum in concione Torgae habita (ANNO etc. XXXIII.) pie admodum explicuit, omnes inutiles et curiosas quaestiones praecidit, atque ad piam fidei simplicitatem omnes Christianos adhortatus est.
Satis enim nobis esse debet, si sciamus, Christum ad inferos descendisse, infernum omnibus credentibus destruxisse, nosque per ipsum e potestate mortis et Satanae, ab aeterna damnatione, atque adeo e faucibus inferni ereptos. Quo autem modo haec effecta fuerint, non curiose scrutemur, sed huius rei cognitionem alteri seculo reservemus: ubi non modo hoc mysterium, sed et alia multa, in hac vita simpliciter a nobis credita, revelabuntur: quae captum caecae nostrae rationis excedunt.
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Pet.3.19;Acts.2.24;Hos.13.14 — in which also he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, Acts.2.24 — God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, since it was not possible for him to be held by it. Hos.13.14 — From the hand of Sheol I will ransom them; from death I will redeem them. Where are your plagues, O Death? Where is your sting, O Sheol? Repentance shall be hidden from my eyes.
- ↩1Cor.13.12 — For now we see in a mirror, dimly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
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