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The Apostles' Creed: SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED [Ecumenical]
WorkofGod.org ^ | October 27, 1998 | Robert M. Haddad

Posted on 05/31/2008 9:10:39 PM PDT by Salvation

SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS
PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED,
DIED AND WAS BURIED

"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53, 3).

The great mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ was to redeem the world, to reconcile humanity to an offended God and restore us to His friendship. To achieve this, Our Lord had to satisfy the Divine Justice for our sins - He chose to suffer and die in our place.

As the Son of God every act of Our Lord was an act of a Divine Person. Therefore, every single act of suffering on Christ’s part, every drop of His Precious Blood spilt, was of infinite value and therefore sufficiently meritorious to redeem humanity. Yet, for love of us, Christ of His own free will chose to place no human limit on His suffering, pouring out His Blood to the very last drop. In the Book of Isaiah we find the mysterious oracles prophesying the suffering and death of the Messiah:

"Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form of comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed…He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth…" (Is. 53, 1 - 7).

From the Gospels we can list specifically the cruel sufferings endured by Christ that ended in His terrible and ignominious death:

(i) The agony in the Garden of Gethsemani when His sweat became as drops of blood as He submitted to the will of His Father;

(ii) His betrayal by Judas, and His abandonment by the other disciples who were His closest confidants during the last three years;

(iii) The denials of St. Peter, the head of the other Apostles and the one who had previously sworn publicly to defend Our Lord;

(iv) The false accusations before the High Priests, Herod and Pilate, as well as the mockery, scorn and derision poured upon Our Lord in the process;

(v) His condemnation to death on the basis of false evidence, as well as the cowardice and injustice of Pilate;

(vi) His rejection in favor of the murderer Barabbas by a mob bribed by Christ’s enemies, which drowned out the supporters of Christ;

(vii) His scourging at the pillar by two executioners each using a "cat-of-nine-tails" lined with hooks and carrying metals balls at the end of each lash;

(viii) The crown of thorns pressed over the whole of His head, and the derision He suffered as a mock king;

(ix) The heavy Cross placed upon and opening up a wound in His shoulder, and the painful journey to Calvary;

(x) His clothes being torn off Him brutally, re-opening the dried wounds caused by the scourging;

(xi) The nailing of His hands and feet to the Cross with nails believed to be more than six inches in length;

(xii) His bleeding and dying on the Cross for three hours, between two thieves, while enduring further mockery and derision;

(xiii) The mysterious sensation of being abandoned even by His Heavenly Father;

(xiv) The bitter taste of the sponge dipped in vinegar;

(xv) His death on the Cross;

(xvi) The piercing of His right side with a lance which penetrated into His heart, causing blood and water to gush forth.

This sacrifice of His life Christ offered on the altar of the Cross as Priest and Victim to His Father for the salvation of the world: "he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2, 2); "For you were bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6, 20).

By His death on the Cross, Christ merited for us the adoption of sons and the right to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. However, not all will receive such an inheritance: "and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Heb. 5, 9). We are required to believe with sincerity, observe the Commandments, pray regularly and frequent the sacraments, practice good works, and repent of our actual sins.

The sufferings of Christ are the most striking proof of His great love for us. It is for this reason that the Church in all Her prayers and ceremonies makes such frequent use of the Sign of the Cross. Tertullian, at the end of the second century, testifies that it was the common practice of Christians to imprint the Sign of the Cross on their foreheads in all their everyday actions. It has always been the sign that distinguishes Christ’s followers, a sign of contradiction to the Devil and all his followers, a sign that speaks of victory over the enemies of our salvation: "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (In this sign you will conquer).

The Fathers:

St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans 1, 1 (C. 110 AD):

"…you are confirmed in love by the Blood of Christ, firmly believing in regard to our Lord that He is truly of the family of David according to the flesh, and God's Son by the will and power of God, truly born of a Virgin, baptized by John so that all justice might be fulfilled by Him, in the time of Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch truly nailed in the flesh on our behalf…"

Letter of Barnabas 7, 2 (C. 117-132 AD):

"If, then, the Son of God, being the Lord and destined to judge the living and the dead, suffered so that His being wounded might make us live, let us believe that the Son of God could not suffer, except for our sake."

Origen, Homilies on Numbers Hom. 24, 1 (Post 244 AD):

"If there had been no sin, there would have been no necessity for the Son of God to become a lamb; nor would it have been necessary for Him to take flesh and be slain. He would have remained that which He was from the beginning, the Word of God...in all these sacrificial victims there was one lamb who was able to take away sin from the whole world. Therefore have other victims ceased to be, because this victim was such that, although one alone, he sufficed for the salvation of the whole world."

St. Hilary of Poitiers, Commentaries on the Psalms [Ps. 54 (53)] (C. 365 AD):

"We have declared repeatedly and without cease that it was the only-begotten Son of God who was crucified, and that He was condemned to death: He that is eternal by reason of the nature which is His by His birth from the eternal Father; and it must be understood that He underwent the passion not from any natural necessity, but for the sake of the mystery of man’s salvation; and that His submitting to the passion was not from His being compelled thereto, but of His own will...God suffered, therefore, because He voluntarily submitted Himself to the passion."

St. Gregory of Elvira, Homilies on the Books of Sacred Scripture 2 (C. 365-385 AD):

"The tree of the cross, clearly represents an image which to some seems as hard and rough as wood, because on it the Lord was hung so that our sins, which came to us from the tree of transgression, might be punished by being affixed - again, it is through the same Man - to the tree of the cross...To others it stands for shade and refreshment, because believers are protected from the heat and rigor of persecution, and there refreshed."

Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566):

Should anyone inquire why the Son of God underwent His most bitter Passion, he will find that besides the guilt inherited from our first parents the principal causes were the vices and crimes which have been perpetrated from the beginning of the world to the present day and those which will be committed to the end of time. In His Passion and death the Son of God, our Savior, intended to atone for and blot out the sins of all ages, to offer for them to His Father a full and abundant satisfaction.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992):

No. 599: Jesus’ violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God’s plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: "This Jesus (was) delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God." This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were mere passive players in a scenario written in advance by God.

No. 613: Christ’s death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," and the sacrifice of the New Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to God through the "blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

No. 617: The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ’s sacrifice as "the source of eternal salvation" and teaches that "his most holy Passion on the wood of the cross merited justification for us." And the Church venerates his cross as it sings: "Hail, O Cross, our only hope."



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; creeds
Continuing the Series of the Apostles' Creed.

This is an Ecumenical thread. Please follow the guidelines set forth by the Religion Moderator for Ecumenical threads.

1 posted on 05/31/2008 9:10:40 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; sandyeggo; Lady In Blue; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; Catholicguy; RobbyS; ...
Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

2 posted on 05/31/2008 9:11:47 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
The Apostles' Creed in the Scriptures, the Fathers, and the Catechisms [Ecumenical] (I believe in God the Father Almighty

The Apostles' Creed, the Scriptures,the Fathers,& Catechisms Creator of Heaven & Earth. Man, Angels [Ecumenical]

The Apostles' Creed in the Scriptures, the Fathers, and the Catechisms: AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD [Ecumenical]

Apostles' Creed...WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY [Ecumenical]

The Apostles' Creed: SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED [Ecumenical]

3 posted on 05/31/2008 9:14:10 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

Thanks for sharing!

Hymns, I Stand All Amazed, no. 193

1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

[Chorus]
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932


4 posted on 05/31/2008 10:51:46 PM PDT by TheDon
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To: TheDon

I’ve recently written and recorded a song on this topic called “That Rock Is Gonna Roll”. It can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/emmettgrayson. We are still looking for the right artist for a record release, but this “demo” you’ll hear is very goof. The Resurrection is the whole cornerstone of our faith and we want that message to be more widely heard.


5 posted on 06/01/2008 6:27:19 AM PDT by Emmett McCarthy
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To: Salvation

OK, I’ll try for an ecuminic response:

From Westminster:

Question 186: What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?

Answer: The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Savior Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer.

Question 187: How is the Lord’s Prayer to be used?

Answer: The Lord’s Prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer.

Question 188: Of how many parts does the Lord’s Prayer consist?

Answer: The Lord’s Prayer consists of three parts; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.

Question 189: What does the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

Answer: The preface of the Lord’s Prayer (contained in these words, Our Father which art in heaven), teaches us, when we pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein; with reverence, and all other childlike dispositions, heavenly affections, and due apprehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious condescension: as also, to pray with and for others.

From Heidelberg:

Question 118. What has God commanded us to ask of him?

Answer: All things necessary for soul and body; (a) which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer he himself has taught us. (a) James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Matt.6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Question 119. What are the words of that prayer? (a)

Answer: Our Father which art in heaven, 1 Hallowed be thy name. 2 Thy kingdom come. 3 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 4 Give us this day our daily bread. 5 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 6 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

(a) Matt.6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matt.6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matt.6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. Matt.6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matt.6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Luke 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread. Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Question 120. Why has Christ commanded us to address God thus: “Our Father”?

Answer: That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer: namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith, than our parents will refuse us earthly things. (a)

(a) Matt.7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Matt.7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? Matt.7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Luke 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Question 121. Why is it here added, “Which art in heaven”?

Answer: Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God’s heavenly majesty, (a) and that we may expect from his almighty power all things necessary for soul and body. (b)

(a) Jer.23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Jer.23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (b) Rom.10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.


6 posted on 06/01/2008 6:54:56 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Salvation

Feel free to ignore that last post from me. I put it in the wrong place, and it probably makes no sense here.


7 posted on 06/01/2008 7:08:08 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: PAR35

LOL1 I was wondering why you didn’t post about the Apostles’ Creed.

Hey, we all make mistakes. No problem.

Have a great week.


8 posted on 06/01/2008 7:10:45 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

Hey, when you get to a series on the Lord’s Prayer, I’m loaded and ready. As for this series, I’ll just read some of them and enjoy. Have a good week.


9 posted on 06/01/2008 7:14:04 PM PDT by PAR35
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