'Charles Camlin has written a groundbreaking study of the doctrine of Christ's descent into hell, which will stand as the authoritative book on the topic for years to come. While focusing on the Tudor period of the English Reformation, He Descended into Hell also carefully traces the entire preceding history of the Creed's descent clause. Camlin's meticulous work sheds new light on vigorous debates within the Church of England, tracing both continuity and discontinuity with the patristic and medieval eras. Any future scholarship on the teaching of Christ's descent into hell will have to consult Camlin's remarkable accomplishment.' (Dr. Hans Boersma, Chair in Ascetical Theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary)
'The doctrine of Christ's descent into Hell has a rich interpretive history and became a test case for biblical fidelity among reformational theologians, especially in the Church of England. Camlin's exposition of the doctrine's history and function in Reformation era theology shows us the patristic roots of sixteenth-century theological renewal.' (Rev. Dr. Greg Peters, Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology at Biola University)
'Perhaps the most controversial clause in the Apostles' Creed is the statement that "He descended into Hell". Charles Camlin sheds light on this by pointing to its scriptural basis, the way it was understood in the Early Church of the first five centuries and further developments in the Middle Ages. The main focus of his study is on the Church of England in the sixteenth century, especially controversies during the reigns of Henry, Edward and Elizabeth. These are set against the background of the teaching of Erasmus and the Continental Reformers. Camlin is to be congratulated for giving us a lucid, readable and comprehensive account of the debates over the meaning of this clause. This is compulsory reading for anyone with an interest in the topic.' (Tony Lane, Professor of Historical Doctrine at London School of Theology)
'Breaking new ground with the first book-length treatment of this neglected subject, Camlin illuminates Christ's descent into hell as a central theme of theological controversy in sixteenth-century England. Set against the richly woven tapestry of patristic and medieval thought, and the re-imagining of the descent in early modern Europe, this is a nuanced and admirably contextualized study.' (Dr Richard Snoddy, Associate Research Fellow at London School of Theology)
