The Biblical Debate Surrounding Jesus’ Descent to Hell

What did Jesus do after He died and was buried? Where did He go? According to the Apostles' Creed, "he descended into hell."  

Each denomination has an interpretation of this issue. Because of the numerous views, the discussion of what Jesus did after He died and whether He descended into hell is complex. Although many sources we could consult in church history discussed this question, the best place to start is Scripture. We can better navigate the theological waters if we have the solid guidance of God's Word.  

Bible Verses Used in Support of Jesus Descending into Hell 

Nowhere in the Bible is there a verse that teaches Jesus descended to hell (the place of punishment) during the time between His death and resurrection. Instead, Christian theologians and thinkers have interpreted certain Scriptural passages as meaning that Jesus visited hell after his death.  

Some believe that these verses teach that Jesus went to hell to free the Old Testament saints, preaching the good news to them. Others believe that Christ also offered the gospel to all people in hell, giving them a chance for salvation. These interpretations seek a theological explanation of what happened to Old Testament saints and others when they died since they had not heard the gospel.   

Another view is that Jesus descended into hell or Hades to announce His victory to the dead and the spirits.  

At first glance, we can see how the following selections have been used to support these various views:     

• "For as Jonas was in the whale's belly three days and three nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40, Douay-Rheims Bible).  
• "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" (Acts 2:27, KJV).  
• "But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)" (Romans 10:6-7, NIV). 
• "What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?" (Ephesians 4:9, NIV).  
• "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water" (1 Peter 3:18-20, ESV).  
• "For this reason, the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 4:6, NKJV).  

A Closer Look at These Verses 

Many Christians view these verses as evidence that Jesus visited hell and preached the gospel to the dead. However, do these passages teach that?  

Matthew 12:40; Romans 10:6-7; Ephesians 4:9

 If we look closely at these verses, the reference to going down into the deep parts of the earth, the lower regions, or descending to the deep refers to Jesus' burial. He was placed in a tomb, and His body remained buried for three days. Just as Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days, Jesus' body was physically in a tomb for three days. He descended to the grave before rising to life and ascending to heaven (Ephesians 4:10).  

Acts 2:27

Christ was buried, but His body was not left to decay. Peter quotes Psalm 16:10 in his Pentecost sermon to emphasize that Jesus was resurrected (see Acts 2:27-36). The word that the King James Version translates as "hell" in Acts 2:27 and 2:31 is better translated as Hades based on the Greek. Although Hades can refer to hell in certain verses, it can also mean the general realm of the dead. Multiple translations support this latter meaning, including the NIV, NLT, and the Amplified Bible (Acts 2:27). The Hebrew equivalent in Psalm 16:10 is Sheol, which is the place of the dead divided into a temporary dwelling for unbelievers (hell) and believers (heaven). Unlike David, who was dead and still lying in the grave, Jesus' body did not stay in the grave. He was resurrected (see Acts 2:29-31).  

1 Peter 3:18 and 4:6 

Some view these passages as teaching that Christ descended into hell after His death to preach the gospel to the dead, including to the souls of those who died before the flood.  

However, this interpretation does not align with the rest of Scripture. People do not receive a second chance to be saved after death, for they die once and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Those during Noah's day had already chosen to reject the Lord, having lived in unrelenting rebellion until the day they were swept away by the flood. The same applies to people in Old Testament times. If they did not place faith in the Lord during their lifetime, looking forward to the redemption offered in Christ, they decided to reject the Lord and His gift of salvation.   

Some commentators believe that these passages support the idea that Jesus declared His victory in the realm of the dead or evil spirits. Many commentators think that a better interpretation is that Jesus spoke through Noah when the ark-builder preached to the people of his time. As the Zondervan Academic Blog stated, "When Noah was building the ark, Christ "in spirit" was preaching through Noah to the hostile unbelievers around him." This interpretation aligns with the rest of Scripture since Peter refers to Noah as a "preacher of righteousness" who preached to the rebellious individuals of his day, warning them of the coming judgment (2 Peter 2:5).