Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The statement “he [Christ] descended into Hades” in
the Apostles’ Creed has generated theological debate
concerning the nature and purpose of the descent and
the relationship of Christ to ancestors. Given St. Thomas
Aquinas’ outstanding contribution to the development of
this doctrine, this article explores Aquinas’ contributions
to the doctrine of Christ’s descent into Hades. It then
critiques ancestor Christology through the lens of the
descent doctrine. A desktop research approach is used to
gather and analyse data from journal articles, books, and
theses. The article argues that Christ died in place of sinful
humanity and bore the total punishment for sin; therefore,
there is no sacrifice for salvation except that which Christ
offered. This emphasises that salvation is solely through
Christ, and no rituals, sacrifices, or ancestors can replace
His redemptive work. The article also asserts that Christ,
as the Son of God, surpasses any human ancestor in
importance and power, making ancestor Christology
invalid. It encourages Akan Christians to place their faith
solely in Christ.
