The Formula of Concord
                     Translated by F. Bente and W.H.T. Dau
                                 Published in:
                   _Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books
                         of the Ev. Lutheran Church_.
          (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921), pp. 503-529.
                                       
                                       
                    _IX. OF THE DESCENT OF CHRIST TO HELL._
 
                            _STATUS CONTROVERSIAE._
 
 Chief Controversy concerning This Article.
 
 1] It has also been disputed among some theologians who have subscribed
 to the Augsburg Confession concerning this article: When and in what
 manner the Lord Christ, according to our simple Christian faith, descended
 to hell: whether this was done before or after His death; also, whether it
 occurred according to the soul alone, or according to the divinity alone, or
 with body and soul, spiritually or bodily; also, whether this article
 belongs to the passion or to the glorious victory and triumph of Christ.
 
 2] But since this article, as also the preceding, cannot be comprehended by
 the senses or by our reason, but must be grasped by faith alone, it is our
 unanimous opinion that there should be no disputation concerning it, but
 that it should be believed 3] and taught only in the simplest manner;
 according as Dr. Luther, of blessed memory, in his sermon at Torgau in the
 year 1533 has explained this article in an altogether Christian manner,
 separated from it all useless, unnecessary questions, and admonished all
 godly Christians to Christian simplicity of faith.
 
 4] For it is sufficient that we know that Christ descended into hell,
 destroyed hell for all believers, and delivered them from the power of
 death and of the devil, from eternal condemnation and the jaws of hell. But
 how this occurred we should [not curiously investigate, but] reserve until
 the other world, where not only this point [mystery], but also still others
 will be revealed, which we here simply believe, and cannot comprehend
 with our blind reason. 
 
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