What does it mean He descended into hell in the Apostles Creed?

Answer 1

This refers to Christ's actions during the time from His death until his Resurrection when He descended into Hades and proclaimed His victory over death. 1 Peter 19:

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Answer 2

It is a reference to Hades, and refers to the declaration of victory made by Christ to captive spirits. The creed writers used the word Hell synomymously for Hades. The Greek used in 1 Peter makes the meaning clearer since Peter wrote not of a place of torture or eternal punishment.

Answer 3

It means that He died in every possible sense. His body died and his soul (spirit) went to the abode of the dead. It also means that He endured the full and complete consequence of humanity's sin; He took the entire penalty including the pains of Hell, whatever that might entail. There is no depth to which a wretched person can descend where Christ has not been before us. There is no place where Christ's saving grace cannot reach us.

Answer 4

This is a reference to 1 Peter 3:18-19, an important addition to the Christ myth, that says that Jesus had been put to death and before he ascended into heaven, he was "made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison [the dead in hell]." No reason is given by the author of 1 Peter for Jesus to preach to those who had already been condemned to eternal punishment.