What is the force of the "as" and "so also" in this Article?
It shows that His going down into hell is of similar importance to His death and burial.
What is meant by "hell" in this Article?
"The place of departed spirits;" which the Church in the United States allows to be used as an equivalent expression.
How do you prove that Jesus went down into hell?
St. Peter (Acts ii. 31) says, concerning Jesus, that "His soul was not left in hell;" which of course implies that He went thither.
Show that the phrase "went down" is scriptural in relation to this subject.
Eph. iv. 9.
For what reason is it important to believe that Christ descended into hell?
Because otherwise His soul would not have undergone the full penalty of sin, nor would He have passed through all that mankind are destined to. Moreover, it was needful that He should go and proclaim to "the spirits in prison" the fact of His triumph over death. (1 St. Peter iii. 19.)
Give another reason.
Because if we believe that He descended into hell, we shall not so much dread to undergo that which He has undergone before us.
