Baptists/apostles creed

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Expert: - 3/15/2004


Question
Dear Cooper  P Abrams 111,
 Saw the Passion of the Christ. Got me thining about the Apostles Creed which I said every Sunday in the Reformed church. Do Baptists and or E-free denomintaion believe that "Jesus decended into hell" during the 3 days he was dead..?
 Where is it in the Bible or where would the people who say the Apostles Creed base it on?
Thanks for any info....
Laurie

Answer
Hi Laurie,
   The apostles creed was written as a counter to the false teachings of gnosticism. The evidence suggests that the clause "decended into hell" was not contained in the earliest known versions of the creed. Indeed, it is a comparatively late addition.   There is also no scriptural evidence for the statement.   Jesus went in to the grave....not the Lake of Fire or Hades.
    Further the statement "I believe in . . ., the holy *catholic church" is also not biblical.  I have an article on my web site at "The Mistranslation of the Greek Word "Ekklesia" in the English Bible and its Ramifications"  at http://bible-truth.org/Ekklesia.html which explains that the Bible does not teach that there is a universal or "catholic" church.
    The other statements in the creed are correct.
    Thank you for writing and your good question.  If my answer is not sufficient please write again and will will try to follow up on this....
Cooper Abrams  

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Cooper P. Abrams III

Expertise

Independent Fundamental Baptist missionary and pastor, ThB, MBS. I began pastoring in 1981, and have taught in churches, a Bible college, and a Bible Institute. I have written numerous articles on various subjects from a biblical perspective and many are posted on my web site Bible Truth ( http://www.bible-truth.org ). Bible Truth receives over sixty thousand visits per month. Since 1998 I have answered Bible related questions via e-mail. My answers are straight forward and biblical. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -----DO NOT ASK A QUESTION AND THEN NOT READ THE ANSWER! ABOUT FOUR IN TEN QUESTIONS ASKED ARE NEVER READ. I FREELY GIVE MY TIME TO GIVE HELPFUL ANSWERS. OFTEN THE ANSWER WILL REQUIRE AS MUCH AS A HOUR OR MORE TO RESEARCH AND THEN TO FORMULATE THE REPLY. IF YOU SEND A QUESTION PLEASE BE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT. MOST PEOPLE DO...BUT ALL SHOULD. THANKS

Experience

I have been a pastor since 1981 and a Independent Baptist missionary church planter since 1986. I have seen the Lord establish four Bible believing churches in Utah. My web site Bible Truth ( http:\\bible-truth.org ) continues to grow presently over 60,000 visits per month. The materials on the web site are mostly written by myself and contain sermons, Bible commentaries, articles on various biblical subjects.

Publications
- Appeared on Grizzly Adams DVD documentary "End Times: How Close Are We?" (http://www.grizzlyadams.com/Public/ChristianDVDs/index.cfm?productID=49). - Article "Are Mormons Christians" "O Timothy Magazine" Way of Life Literature (http://www.wayoflife.org/files/9959c77e05b303248173195e72476459-60.html)

Education/Credentials
ThB and MBS from Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem, NC

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