On the Fifth Article

212. What is the first proof and earnest given by Jesus Christ that his sufferings and death have wrought salvation for us men? This: that he rose again, and so laid the foundation for our like blessed resurrection. Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. 1 Cor. xv. 20. 213. What should we think of the state in which Jesus Christ was after his death, and before his resurrection? This is described in the following hymn of the Church: In the grave as to the flesh, in hades with thy soul, as God, in paradise with the thief, and on the throne wert thou, O Christ, together with the Father and the Spirit, filling all things, thyself uncircumscribed. 214. What is hades or hell? Hades is a Greek word, and means a place void of light. In divinity, by this name is understood a spiritual prison, that is, the state of those spirits which are separated by sin from the sight of God's countenance, and from the light and blessedness which it confers. Jude i. 6; Octoich. tom. v.; sticher. ii. 4. 215. Wherefore did Jesus Christ descend into hell? To the end that he might there also preach his victory over death, and deliver the souls which with faith awaited his coming. 216. Does holy Scripture speak of this? It is referred to in the following passage: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he may bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit; in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison. 1 Pet. iii. 18, 19. 217. What is there for us to remark on the next words of the Creed: and rose again the third day, according to the Scripture? These words were put into the Creed from the following passage in the Epistle to the Corinthians: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scripture; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the Scripture. 1 Cor. xv. 3, 4. 218. What force is there in these words: according to the Scripture? By this is shown that Jesus Christ died and rose again, precisely as had been written of him prophetically in the books of the Old Testament. 219. Where, for instance, is there any thing written of this? In the fifty-third chapter of the book of the Prophet Isaiah, for instance, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ is imaged forth with many particular traits: as, He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah liii. 5. Of the resurrection of Christ the Apostle Peter quotes the words of the sixteenth Psalm: For why? thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, neither shalt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Acts ii. 27. 220. Is this also in the Scripture of the Old Testament, that Jesus Christ should rise again precisely on the third day? A prophetic type of this was set forth in the Prophet Jonah: And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah i. 17. 221. How was it known that Jesus Christ had risen? The soldiers who watched his sepulchre knew this with terror, because an angel of the Lord rolled away the stone which closed his sepulchre, and at the same time there was a great earthquake. Angels likewise announced the resurrection of Christ to Mary Magdalene and some others. Jesus Christ himself on the very day of his resurrection appeared to many: as to the women bringing spices, to Peter, to the two disciples going to Emmaus, and, lastly, to all the Apostles in the house, the doors being shut. Afterwards he oftentimes showed himself to them during the space of forty days; and one day he was seen of more than five hundred believers at once. 1 Cor. xv. 6. 222. Why did Jesus Christ after his resurrection show himself to the Apostles during the space of forty days? During this time he continued to teach them the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Acts i. 3.