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Darkness to Light - Vol. XXIII, No. 4
Darkness to Light
Christian Newsletter
Volume XXIII, Number 4
2025
Presented by
Darkness to
Light Website
Director: Gary F. Zeolla
In This Issue
Holy Saturday: What Was Jesus Doing? Part Two
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Newsletter News
I am once again very late in publishing this issue of Darkness to Light newsletter. That is because of working on the project mentioned next. It took longer than expected, but I hope some people any find it to be inspirational. Also, I had content to add to my other websites, as seen near the end of this newsletter.
New Autobiography!
The Lord Stood By Me and Gave Me Strength
The Life and Legacy of Gary F.
Zeolla;
Author, Bible Translator, Champion Powerlifter
From powerlifting world records to forty books and a pioneering Bible translation, from battling chronic illnesses to weathering financial storms and singleness struggles, my life has been an unlikely testament to God’s sustaining grace. In this raw, revelatory autobiography, I pull back the curtain on:
✓ The Making of a Bible Translator – How I created the Analytical-Literal Translation despite health and financial obstacles
✓ Strength Through Struggle – My journey to 15 powerlifting all-time world records amid debilitating conditions
✓ Faith Under Fire – Spiritual practices that sustained me through singleness, dating disasters, and isolation
✓ Body as Temple – An overview of my diet and training regimen that keeps me productive against all odds
✓ Politics & Principles – Why I published controversial writings on fitness, politics, and Covid
More than a memoir, this is a survival manual proving Paul’s words: “for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2Cor 12:10). Whether you’re wrestling with health limitations, vocational calling, or relational loneliness, my story shouts: God’s power thrives in broken vessels.
I have only accomplished so much in my life despite the struggles because, “the Lord stood by me and gave me strength” (2Tim 4:17a). To Him be all the glory!
Available from Amazon in multiple formats for as little as $3.50.
Holy Saturday: What Was Jesus Doing?
Part Two
This article is continued from Holy Saturday: What Was Jesus Doing? Part One.
Ephesians 4:7-10 and the Apostles’ Creed
7But to each one of us was given grace according to the measure of the free gift of Christ. 8For this reason, He [or, it] says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a group of captives and gave gifts to people.” [Psalm 68:18] 9Now this, “He ascended,” what is it [fig., what does it mean] except that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10The One having descended, He is also the One having ascended far above all the heavens, so that He should fill all [things] (Ephesians 4:7-10).
This passage is where the phrase “descended into hell” in the Apostles’ Creed comes from. It is based on the phrase, “descended first into the lower parts of the earth.”
However, the Greek text translated “hell” in the Creed is neither Gehenna nor Hades. It is the Greek phrase katōtata meros, that is rendered “lower parts” in the ALT in verse 8. The ALT gives the most literal rendering of these two words. Some other versions have similarly “lower regions.”
However, some versions are quite different. They have: earthly parts, our lowly world, or lower, earthly places. Each of these moves away from the phrase referring to the realm of the dead to this earth. That is a possible interpretation of this phrase and why some disagree with the phrase, “descended into hell” in the Apostles’ Creed.
I remember one of my professors at Denver Seminary saying that when his church recited the Creed in church, he would stay silent when this phrase was recited. He didn’t make a big deal about it. He just disagreed with that interpretation of this verse.
However, many others agree with it, including, obviously, the original drafters of the Apostles’ Creed. But it must be noted, the potential problem is not with the original Creed, as it just quotes the Bible. The problem is with the English translation of the Greek text of the Creed as “hell.”
That implies Jesus descend into the place of eternal punishment, which is to say, of the damned. But Jesus was not damned. Moreover, as previously proposed, that place of hell was not yet occupied at the time of Christ’s death. But that idea does lead to an aberrant teaching that will be discussed with the next Bible passage.
But here, what is meant by the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed? Some think it refers to the grave. But John Calvin comments astutely in that regard in his Institutes. He points out that the prior line is, “Was crucified, dead, and buried.” Thus, “buried” has already been mentioned, and in such a short Creed as this one, it would make little sense to repeat the same idea. No other idea is repeated in the Creed. However, it would make sense that Jesus descended into Hades or the realm of the dead. That would explain the sentence in Ephesians quoted from Psalm 68:18, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a group of captives and gave gifts to people.”
These “captives” were those righteous Old Testament saints in the “good” compartment of Hades. They were captive in that they were still separated from God. But Jesus led them to heaven to be with His Father, but He did not stay there. That is why He told Mary He had not yet ascended to His Father (John 20:17).
Thus, the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed should be translated as “descended into Hades [or, the realm of the dead].” In that case, that descent into Hades then ascent into heaven with the Old Testament saints occurred on Holy Saturday. That then would be the answer to my original question as to what Jesus was doing on that day 2,000 years ago.
1Peter 3:18-22
18For Christ also suffered once for sin for all [time, the] Righteous [One] on behalf of unrighteous [people], so that He should bring you* to God, [Christ] having been put to death on the one hand in flesh [fig., in the physical realm], on the other hand having been made alive in spirit [fig., in the spiritual realm via resurrection], 19in which [state of resurrection] also having gone, He proclaimed [His victory] to the spirits in prison, 20having formerly refused to believe, when the patience of God kept eagerly waiting in [the] days of Noah, while an ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water; 21which [as] an antitype baptism [or, immersion] now also saves us (not [the] removal of [the] filth of [the] flesh, but an appeal to God for [or, a pledge to God from] a good conscience) through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at [the] right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels [or, messengers [of the Lord]] and authorities and powers having been subjected to Him (1Peter 3:18-22).
This is a very difficult passage of Scripture, with many debates as to its meanings. The added (bracketed) words in the ALT are an attempt to interpret it for the reader. The view I am proposing is that after His resurrection but before His ascension, Jesus descended into Hades to proclaim His victory over sin, death, and the Devil. By doing so, He sealed the fate of those who refused to believe in Old Testament times, most specially, those who rejected the preaching of Noah before the cataclysmic flood.
In other words, this proclamation would be to those in the “bad” compartment of Hades. It differs completely from the scene in Ephesians in terms of time, audience, and purpose.
Again, what Paul is discussing is what the soul of Jesus was doing on Holy Saturday, that of descending into the good compartment of Hades and leading the Old Testament saints to heaven. Peter is describing an event that happened after Eater Sunday, when Jesus in both body and spirit descended into the bad compartment of Hades to proclaim His victory over sin, death, and the Devil, sealing the fate of the damned.
The aforementioned aberrant interpretation of this verse is that Jesus was providing a “second chance” to Old Testament non-believers to believe in Him and to be saved. That view is aberrant, as:
27And just as it is laid up [fig., destined] for people to die once for all time [or, only once], and after this [comes] judgment, [cp. Gen 3:19; Eccl 3:2,20] 28so also Christ, having been offered once for all time to bear [or, take away] the sins of many, will appear a second time without [reference to] sin to [bring] salvation to the ones eagerly waiting for Him! (Hebrews 9:27-28).
There is just no support anyplace elsewhere in Scripture that people are given a second chance after death to believe. A person’s fate is sealed at death.
AIs on “Descended into Hell”
I just gained access to Google’s new Gemini AI when I began working on this article. I asked it, “What is meant by ‘descended into hell’ in the Apostles’ Creed?” Its answer to that question was very good. But I then asked it, “How many genders are there?” Its answer to that question was not so good, to say the least. I then had a ten-minute debate with Gemini on that subject. But that would be another article.
I then checked that latter question on a couple of other AIs (Meta AI and Chat GPT). Their answers were also not so good, though Meta’s was the best of the three. But then I checked Gab AI. It is an offshoot of the right-wing Gab social site, in which I participate. Its answer was very good. I then asked it my first question and got another very good answer.
Thus, below are the answers to that first question from first Gemini AI then Gab AI. They provide a fitting conclusion to this two-part article (not indented for the sake of space; bolding and italics in originals).
Gemini AI:
The phrase “descended into hell” in the Apostles’ Creed has a rich and complex meaning rooted in early Christian beliefs about the afterlife and the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection. Here’s a breakdown of what it signifies:
1. The Realm of the Dead (Hades/Sheol):
· In the context of the Apostles’ Creed, “hell” doesn’t primarily refer to the place of eternal damnation as it’s commonly understood today (often called Gehenna in the New Testament).
· Instead, it refers to the realm of the dead, known in Greek as Hades and in Hebrew as Sheol. This was understood as the general place where the souls of all the deceased went, both righteous and unrighteous, awaiting the final resurrection.
· Think of it as the common “abode of the dead,” a neutral space rather than a place of torment at this stage.
2. Jesus’ Complete Experience of Death:
· The inclusion of “descended into hell” emphasizes the completeness and reality of Jesus’ death. It underscores that he truly died and experienced the state of being dead, just like any other human being.
· By entering the realm of the dead, Jesus fully identified with the human condition, even in death.
3. Victory Over Death (Harrowing of Hell):
· A significant interpretation, which developed early in Christian tradition, is the “Harrowing of Hell.” This belief, though not explicitly detailed in the Bible, suggests that while in the realm of the dead, Christ proclaimed his victory over death and evil.
· According to this view, Jesus liberated the righteous souls held captive in Hades/Sheol who had died before his coming, bringing them into God’s presence (often referred to as Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom).
· This tradition highlights Christ’s triumph over death not just through his resurrection but also through his presence and action in the realm of the dead.
4. Scriptural Basis:
· The phrase is often linked to scriptural passages such as:
o Psalm 16:10 (quoted in Acts 2:27): “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your holy one see corruption.” This was interpreted as a prophecy of Christ’s descent and resurrection.
o 1 Peter 3:18-20: This passage speaks of Christ, “being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” going and proclaiming a message to “the spirits in prison.” While interpretations vary, some see this as Christ’s activity in the realm of the dead.
o Ephesians 4:8-9: This speaks of Christ “descending into the lower parts of the earth,” which some interpret as a reference to his descent into Hades.
In summary, “descended into hell” in the Apostles’ Creed signifies that Jesus truly died and entered the realm of the dead. It often carries the additional meaning of Christ’s triumphant presence there, liberating the righteous and further demonstrating his victory over death in preparation for his resurrection. The understanding of “hell” in this context is crucial; it refers to the abode of the dead (Hades/Sheol) rather than solely the place of eternal punishment (Gehenna). (bolding in original).
Gab AI:
The phrase “He descended into hell” in the Apostles’ Creed refers to Christ’s victory over death and His proclamation of triumph to the souls held captive in the realm of the dead (often called Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek). This is based on biblical passages such as:
· 1 Peter 3:18–20 – Christ preached to the “spirits in prison” (traditionally understood as the righteous dead, particularly those from Noah’s time).
· Ephesians 4:9 – Speaks of Christ descending “into the lower parts of the earth.”
· Psalm 16:10 (Acts 2:27) – “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.”
Key Interpretations:
1. Victory Over Death – Christ’s descent demonstrates His complete dominion over sin, death, and Satan.
2. Preaching to the Dead – Some traditions (like early Church Fathers) hold that Christ liberated the righteous who died before His resurrection (e.g., Adam, Abraham, David).
3. Not Eternal Punishment – This is not the same as the lake of fire (Gehenna), but rather the temporary abode of the dead before Christ’s redemptive work.
Rejection of Modern Misinterpretations:
· Some liberal theologians try to downplay this as mere metaphor, but Scripture and historic Christianity affirm it as a real event.
· It is not a “second chance” for the damned, but a declaration of Christ’s lordship over all creation.
To Comment:
There are some differences in these AI’s interpretation of the various passages and the creedal statement versus mine, such as saying Peter was referring to Christ’s actions on Holy Saturday rather than after Easter Sunday.
But I do find it interesting that Gemini uses the ALT’s phrase of “realm of the dead” for Hades, while Gab uses the similar “abode of the dead.” And both follow me in saying Christ led captivity captive by taking the Old Testament saints to heaven.
Gab uses my phrase of Christ being victorious over “sin, death, and Satan,” while Gemini has “victory over death and evil.” Both emphasize, as I do, that Hades is not the place of eternal punishment, and that Hades is the place for both the righteous and unrighteous dead before Christ. But neither gives the same idea as me of two compartments in Hades. But I think that is the only way to explain and reconcile all of the quoted Bible passages.
Finally, only Gab emphasizes a point I made, that there is no “second chance” after death, not then, not now, not ever.
Conclusion/
What Matters Most
Though this two-part article discussed some finer points of theology, the specific name of the place where the departed righteous go versus the departed unrighteous is not the most important point. What matters is, when you die, you will either be in a place of torment, or you will be in a place of comfort. And what will determine which will be your fate is if you have had your sins forgiven, as we all have sinned, thus, none of us is truly righteous.
“[There] is not a righteous [person], not even one. 11[There] is not [a person] understanding; there is not [a person] diligently seeking after God. 12All turned aside, together they became unprofitable; [there] is not [a person] doing goodness [or, what is right], [there] is not so much as one. [Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccl 7:20] ….
19Now we know that as many [things] as the Law says, it speaks to the [people] in the Law, so that every mouth shall be stopped [fig., silenced] and all the world shall become answerable to God. 20Therefore, by works of [the] Law not will all flesh [or, will no flesh] be justified [or, declared righteous] before Him, for by means of [the] Law is [the] full [or, true] knowledge of sin.
21But now, apart from [the] Law has the righteousness of God been revealed, being testified to by the Law and the Prophets, 22but the righteousness of God [is] through faith [or, trust] in Jesus Christ to all and upon all the ones believing, for there is no difference [or, distinction]. 23For all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified [or, declared righteous] freely by His grace through the redemption [or, setting free], the [one] in Christ Jesus, 25whom God Himself put forward publicly [as] a mercy seat [or, propitiation] through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins having previously occurred, 26in the tolerance of God, for a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for Him to be righteous and justifying the [person] [or, declaring the [person] righteous] [who has] faith in Jesus ((Romans 3:10b-12,19-26).
Notes:
All Bible passages quoted from the Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament Third Edition (corrected).
I was listening to the audiobook version of the Institutes when I heard the mentioned comment by John Calvin, so I cannot give a specific page number. But in his Institutes, Calvin provides a commentary on the entire Creed, so it comes from that section.
The links to Amazon are advertising links, for which I receive a commission in addition to my royalty if a product is purchased after following the link.
Amazon Author Page for Gary F. Zeolla
New on My Christian Darkness to Light Website
Below are new items on my Christian website that have been posted since the last issue of this newsletter was published.
June 2025 Christian Commentaries is
a new page with a commentary about modesty in dress.
6/19/25
New on My Fitness for One and All Website
Below are new items on my fitness website that have been posted since the last issue of this newsletter was published.
Powerlifting Workout Posts and Videos: April to June 2025 (Q2) has been completed with all of my workouts for this time period.
Powerlifting Workout Posts and Videos: July to September 2025 (Q3) will
record my workouts for the next quarter of 2025.
6/29/25
Vol. XXIII, No. 3 is the latest issue of the free FitTips for One and All newsletter.
Cancer Warning on Alcoholic Drinks? is a new article.
6/1/25
New on My Biblical and Constitutional Politics Website
Below are new items on my politics website that have been posted since the last issue of this newsletter was published.
Political Commentaries for Q2 of 2025 is
a new three-part article. It covers important political happenings in April,
May, June, and early July 2025, with a focus on the many distortions of the
media and Dems about the many good things Trump has been doing in his second
term in office.
7/20/25
The prices for all fourteen of my politics books sold on Amazon have been reduced. The price reductions are for the Kindle, paperback, and hardback formats of the books. The prices on Lulu have not changed, as Lulu’s system makes it too difficult to make a simple price change, so get the books on Amazon.
#Politics #Trump
#Biden #BidenCorruption #BidenFailure #Impeach #Impeachment #2020Election #ElectionFraud
#2020ElectionFraud #Insurrection #J6 #January6th #CapitolRiot #Kavanaugh #MediaBias
#BigTechBias #J6SelectCommittee
6/11/25
New on My Covid Fearmongering and Lies Website
Below are new items on my Covid website that have been posted since the last issue of this newsletter was published.
Covid
Quarterly Commentaries for Q2 2025 is a new two-part article. RFK
Jr. has shaken things up at HHS and the CDC. His changes will probably lead to
more vaccine hesitancy, leading to even more needless suffering. Changes in
Covid vaccine recommendations. Covid vaccine approvals. Also, four possible
causes of heart problems among seemingly young and healthy people other than the
Covid vaccines. A look back and pastors and Covid. A new Covid variant.
7/23/25
New Autobiography!
The Lord Stood By Me and Gave Me Strength
The Life and Legacy of Gary F.
Zeolla;
Author, Bible Translator, Champion Powerlifter
From powerlifting world records to forty books and a pioneering Bible translation, from battling chronic illnesses to weathering financial storms and singleness struggles, my life has been an unlikely testament to God’s sustaining grace. In this raw, revelatory autobiography, I pull back the curtain on:
✓ The Making of a Bible Translator – How I created the Analytical-Literal Translation despite health and financial obstacles
✓ Strength Through Struggle – My journey to 15 powerlifting all-time world records amid debilitating conditions
✓ Faith Under Fire – Spiritual practices that sustained me through singleness, dating disasters, and isolation
✓ Body as Temple – An overview of my diet and training regimen that keeps me productive against all odds
✓ Politics & Principles – Why I published controversial writings on fitness, politics, and Covid
More than a memoir, this is a survival manual proving Paul’s words: “for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2Cor 12:10). Whether you’re wrestling with health limitations, vocational calling, or relational loneliness, my story shouts: God’s power thrives in broken vessels.
I have only accomplished so much in my life despite the struggles because, “the Lord stood by me and gave me strength” (2Tim 4:17a). To Him be all the glory!
Available from Amazon in multiple formats for as little as $3.50.
Also by Gary F. Zeolla:
Zeolla.org
is the personal website for Gary F. Zeolla.
Author of Christian and of fitness books, Web sites, and
newsletters,
and a top ranked and multi-record holding powerlifter.
Fitness
for One and All website and
FitTips
for One and All newsletter.
“Helping people to attain their health, fitness, and performance goals,
with an emphasis on powerlifting.”
Biblical and Constitutional Politics
“Political articles and commentary from a conservative Christian and politically
conservative perspective”
Covid Fearmongering and
Lies
“Coronavirus
Fearmongering on the Left, Covid-19 Lies on the Right”
A Layman's View of What the Authorities Got Correct and Incorrect about
SARS-CoV-2
All material in this newsletter is copyrighted © 2025 by Gary F. Zeolla or as indicated otherwise.
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7/23/25