The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Is the Apostles’ Creed Biblical?
While most of the doctrines in the Apostles’ Creed are Biblical, there are two phrases that are not.
First: Jesus didn’t descend into hell. The Phrase “He descended into hell” is referring to the prophecy of David: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). Here, the word “hell” simply means the grave. The word “hell” does not always mean a place of suffering and torment. ”Hell” in Hebrew is ”she’ol” which is the figurative dwelling place of the dead, where those who have departed from this life are represented as sleeping waiting for the “Resurrection.”
Second: in regards to “the holy catholic church,” this does not refer to the “Roman Catholic Church” as we know it today. The word catholic means “universal.” The true “catholic” church is all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
