Christian Creeds and Statements are carefully worded responses to heresies or situations that
challenge orthodox Christianity. They are not new revelations or additions to Scripture, but rather
a careful reflection of doctrine.
In response to Gnostics who challenged that Jesus was fully human with a material
body, the Apostles’ Creed was drawn up to emphasize Jesus’ true humanity. However,
unlike the Nicene Creed, the Creed was not written or approved by a single church council
at one specific time; instead, it took shape over some 550 years, from 200 A.D. to 750 A.D.
The controversial phrase "he descended into hell" was not found in any of the early
versions of the Creed. Rufinus of Aquileia (Tyrannius Rufinus or Rufinus Aquileiensis), a
translator of Greek patristic material into Latin, was the only one to include the phrase
before 650 A.D. Rather than understanding the phrase to mean Christ "descended into hell",
Rufinus understood it to mean "He descended into the grave."
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
(note)
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the
Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
(note)
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
(note)
was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell;
(note)
the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,
and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church;
(note)
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
(note)
the resurrection of the body
(note);
and
the life everlasting.
AMEN
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