Is This Actually Biblical? | "Did Jesus Really Go To Hell?"

About this episode

The episode explores the meaning of 'He descended to the dead' in the Apostles' Creed from a biblical perspective.

Ever wondered what we’re really saying when we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, ‘He descended to the dead’? In this episode of A Matter of Truth, Anthony and co-host Alex tackle one of the most misunderstood lines in the Creed from a Reformed Baptist and confessional Lutheran perspective. We cut through the myths, medieval legends, and modern distortions—Roman Catholic Harrowing of Hell, Eastern dramatic imagery, progressive metaphors, Mormon second chances, and more—and return straight to Scripture. Jesus really died. His soul truly entered the realm of the dead. Yet the atonement was finished on the cross—nothing extra needed. The descent is not more suffering; it is the bold announcement of victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. We unpack the hypostatic union, the biblical geography of Sheol/Hades vs. Gehenna, key passages like 1 Peter 3, Acts 2, Ephesians 4, and the real pastoral comfort this brings when facing grief and death. Christ has gone before us, holds the keys, and because He lives, we will live too. If you’ve ever recited the Creed and wondered what it actually means, or if you’re searching for clear biblical hope in a confusing world, this episode is…

People in this episode

Hosts: Anthony C., Alex Z.

Topics covered

• biblical interpretation
• Apostles' Creed
• Harrowing of Hell
• atonement
• Christian theology
• death and resurrection

Keywords

• Jesus
• Hell
• Apostles' Creed
• atonement
• Sheol
• Hades
• Gehenna
• 1 Peter 3
• Acts 2
• Ephesians 4

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mormon, Roman Catholic, Eastern, Reformed Baptist, confessional Lutheran

Books & works: Apostles’ Creed, He Descended to the Dead: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday, DID JESUS VISIT HELL?, the book of concord

More episodes of A Matter of Truth

• Is This Actually Biblical? | “God is Love”… But Not What You Think · May 26, 2026 · 14 min
• Is This Actually Biblical? | “Judge Not!” · March 21, 2026 · 22 min
• Is This Actually Biblical? | The Apostles’ Creed – Did the Apostles Really Write It… or Did We? · February 16, 2026 · 47 min
• Is This Actually Biblical? | Angels and Demons on a Gender Spectrum? · January 22, 2026 · 24 min
• Jesus: The Savior Sent · December 19, 2025 · 58 min
• Giants of the Faith, Part 2 – Honoring Voddie Baucham (1969–2025) & Syncretism · December 4, 2025 · 45 min