DESCENSUS AD INFEROS

Abstract

The descent into hell of Jesus Christ is part of the Apostles' Creed, mentioned in a short sentence between sentences that indicate the two events that have shaped Christianity: the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a short sentence that bridges the gap between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and that refers to an event that, unlike those other constitutive events, has not provoked conflicting theories or numerous commentaries. The descent into hell has never been a hotly debated topic, has not created schisms and has not been the topic of conciliar declarations or condemnations. At times, theologians raise the question whether it should be removed from the Creed, because a clear foundation in Scripture is lacking.2 Still, it is a theme that merits some