Expositio super symbolum Nicenum

Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, and was buried.

Behold the fourth article, which comprises the crucifixion, passion, and burial of Christ, and is found in the apostolic symbol. This article, moreover, embraces both the truth of the matter and invites us to imitate Christ, when it implies the ignominious passion of Christ and his humility. And so that a more certain notice of Christ's passion might be had, it is determined under whose power he suffered, when it is said:

Suffered, under Pontius Pilate.

But since different people assign different reasons why he was called Pontius Pilate, nor does any of these seem certain, this must be passed over. And lest the passion of Christ be believed to be useful to himself and not to us, it is added, "for us."

For it is of the catholic faith to believe that Christ suffered not for himself, but for us. This is said against the Nicolaitans, who say that Christ did not suffer, but that another was substituted in his place on the cross. This also works against those who say that Christ did not feel pain in the passion.

And was buried.

Because, as the evangelical history says, Joseph the decurion placed him in a tomb which he had hewn from rock.¹ The same, moreover, is contained in the apostolic symbol, where it is said: "suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell" — because all these things are chained together, so that one depends on the other and they are said to pertain to one article.

But why is it that in the Nicene symbol the descent into hell is passed over in silence, and not in the apostolic? Only because it is sufficiently declared in the apostolic symbol, and not in the Nicene; from the things said, the thing not said is understood.