What does the Apostles' Creed mean when it says Jesus descended into hell?
The Creed's phrase does not mean Jesus went into the flames of hell. Scripture's account of Abraham and Lazarus shows hell had a paradise side of comfort and a torment side. Jesus descended to that paradise side, not to hell fire, as the context explains.
Les explains that when people from churches using the Apostles' Creed ask what it means that Jesus 'descended into hell,' the answer is not that He went into hell fire. He did go down, but to the paradise side of hell. Les points to Luke 16:23, where the rich man in torment sees Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Abraham is also in hell, but he is not on the torment side; he is on the paradise side. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, because he is tormented in the flame. Abraham replies that the rich man received good things in his lifetime while Lazarus received evil, but now Lazarus is comforted and the rich man is tormented. This passage illustrates the two sides of hell, and the Creed's descent refers to the paradise side, not hell fire.