Did Jesus really descend into hell? Wayne Grudem explains

It is sometimes argued that Christ descended into hell after he died.

The Apostles’ Creed says he “was crucified, dead, and buried, he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead.”

There's just one problem. The phrase “he descended into hell” does not occur in the Bible.

Where did the phrase "he descended into hell” come from? And what does the Bible say?

And if Jesus didn't descend to hell, then what exactly happened when he died?

[blchamblisscscp]

Very short clip of a large topic. Immediately prior to watching this, I watched a longer discussion with Doug Wilson. Wilson posits this: sheol, the Hebrew concept of the place of the dead, is composed of two parts, which is illustrated in Christ's parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus was in "the bosom of Abraham" where the rich man was in the place of torment. This would be analogous to the ancient Greek concept of hades, which has two parts: Elysium and Tartarus. The Hebrew word for the abode of the dead is closer to Hades. Jonah, when he was swallowed by the great fish, died and was taken to the Bosom of Abraham. Thus, when Jesus said in Matt 12:40, as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth. A literal reading would suggest Jonah literally spent 3 days inside a fish and Jesus spent 3 days in the molten core of this plant. But then one would also have to conclude Jesus proclaimed his victory to the dead in the molten core of the earth because that's where he was for 3 days. That doesn't make any sense. It makes more sense that Jesus, like Jonah, Lazarus, and the old Testament saints, were in hades in the Bosom of Abraham. When he ascended to heaven, Jesus set the captives in Bososm of Abraham free and led them to the heavenly presence of God. Post-resurection now, when we die, we now go to be with Christ in our spiritual bodies and await the final resurrection when all things are made new. Thus, it is no contradiction to say Christ descended to Hades (to Paradise a/k/a Abraham's Bosom) and to say to the theif he would be with Christ in paradise. The word Hell is anglicized from Hel, a germanic term for the abode of the dead. Today, the Word Faith theology teaches Christ descended to the place of torment where he was tormented by demons and there he paid for man's sins (and gained for man healing and prosperity, etc), which is a heresy. Hell, as westerners have come to see it, is analogous to gehenna, where the worm does not die. But that is not the original theology. So the statement in the Creed that Christ died and descended to hell, or sheol, is consistent with orthodoxy.

[XxlightxX]

He was not left in hades and his flesh did not experience decay. Acts 2:29

[seanrathmakedisciples]

You are right Jesus went directly to Paradise which was where Abraham and all the Old Testament saints were awaiting the coming of the messiah to make a way to heaven. The thief next to Jesus was told that he would be with Jesus in Paradise. Luke 16:19-31 Jesus explains this place that was a holding place for all the dead both believers and unbelievers . Jesus explains that there was a huge divide between the two places.without access from one place to the other. Jesus proclaimed the gospel to all that the way was finished in Jesus finished work on Calvary and Paradise was emptied and taken to become Paradise of heaven Revelation 2:7. The disobedient are still in Hades which will be cast into the lake of fire. The only reason people go to lake of fire is for rejecting Jesus and his finished sacrifice

[MrJasonrussell]

The reception of many Christians and those who don't understand the Bible.. Jesus also said. The just like jona the son of man shall be in the center of the earth 3days and 3 nights. This is for all who don't know hell is in the center of the earth.. When she arose from the death that's when he went up to heaven. And Paradis is not heaven. Jesus was not tormented but he did when there for the keys

[koryakins]

Poor biblical scholarship. 1 Peter 3:18-20 says it clearly that Jesus went into Hades (abode of the dead) to rescue those who where able to hear and accept Him. This is the New Testament teaching, this is the teaching of the Church until the Reformers screwed it up. Read the "Harrowing of Hell" by J.A. MacGulloch.

[dawsonmurray]

I think the best way to understand this is to say that Christ descended into Hades, the land of the dead, not to suffer for sins but to proclaim His victory over the spirits. Some church fathers, such as Saint John of Damascus, interpret this as Christ preaching the gospel to those who died that they may be saved, leading up a host of captives in His resurrection. (Eph. 4:8)

The apostle’s creed simply needs an update.

[abelincoln]

Nope. Jesus confirmed the Jonah's story was a prophesy about the Messiah especially descending to the the belly of a fish for three days ... and ... the people of the city either accepted or rejecting God's warning otherwise it will be destroyed in 40 days(years).

[kiriakosmichalakis]

Jesus only went to heaven after he was resurrected. Here’s 1 proof. Joh 20:16  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Proof 3. When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, Jesus said, “ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away. What was the sign of Jonah? just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, [b] so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.(That’s not heaven.) Notice 1 Peter 3:19 1 Peter 3:18-21 New International Version (NIV)

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, [a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Jesus also got the keys of Hades and Hell. Revelation 1:18 New International Version (NIV)

18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. I mean well when I post this. I just pray you open your spiritual eyes and ears...

[roderickcruz]

I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise. Take note of the placement of the comma. In hebrew sentence there is no punctuation.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. That was the breathe of life, the life giving spirit of God. It returned to God when Jesus took his last breath.

[kylebrogmus]

The word Trinity does not occur in the Bible, and yet those who don't hold Tinitarian theology would you not say they are in error?

Why would you deny the Harrowing of Hades? Have you read what the Church Fathers have said about it?

Let's see what the Bible says.

"As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water." Zechariah 9:11

"But he answered them and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Matthew 12:39-40

“Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” John 5:25

"Jesus cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in Twain from top to bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" Matthew 27:50-53

"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same who ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" Ephesians 4:8-10 (see also Psalm 68)

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ( not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, ) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God"
1 Peter 3:18-22

For those desiring to learn more about this go and read Anastasis: The Harrowing of Hades, and/or go and visit your nearest Orthodox Church.

[jesselebleu]

"Hell" has two compartments, Jesus explained it. Hell as a holding place will be thrown into the lake of fire along with everything no longer necessary

[louie]

he's spot on! i completely agree with Wayne. i never believed Jesus went to hell.

[charmander]

Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Move the comma from after "Truly I tell you" to after "today"
and you get
Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise."
which opens up the possibility that Jesus might have descended to hell or perhaps not, but it's not ruled out

[shuai]

Wrong. 1 Peter 3:18-20 says it clearly that Jesus went into Hades after being made alive in the Spirit to proclaim victory over evil spirits. They were left there in that abyss and wont be released until the 5 trumpet of Rev 9.

[buelas.]

What about his decision into the lower parts of the earth mentioned in Ephesians chapter 4: 9 &10

[GodsOath_com]

Ephesians 4:9. - after he ascended, he descended into the lower parts of the earth (hell)

[dr.alanhales]

Zondervan. I take it you have never read Acts 2: 27--31, with Lk 16: 22--25? they are the same Greek word and the same place.
Acts 2: 24 says God loosed Jesus from the pains of death.
God didn't loose Jesus from the pains of physical death HE DIED in agony,
But God did loose Jesus from the pains of Spiritual death, [Ps 22: 1 Mt 27: 46. Mk 15: 34], And Hell.

[Total_Body_Fitness_USA]

We choose the path in life and based on our choices will determine whether we face good or bad consequences. How do we know if we are making the right choice? Is it because we are taught by man based on what man has been taught and the cycle continues? Who is there to help us make the right decisions? Some people say God, but God doesn't appear to us and tell us how to live our lives. We must rely on who?

It's up to me if I want to work hard.
It's up to me if I want to treat others with respect.
It's up to me if I want to love others.
It's up to me if I want to believe what others teach.
It's up to me if I want to LIVE.
It's up to me if I want to succeed in life.
It's up to me to do right based on what I THINK is right.

When I pray, I ask God to give me an answer and to help guide me so that I may accomplish what He has created me to be. I listen quietly and continue to listen. As the room remain silent I hear a voice in my head reminding me that, "IT'S UP TO ME!"

[hotwax]

This is another one of those extrabiblical dogmas that is used as a litmus test for orthodoxy by some Christian groups and gets you labelled a heretic if you disagree. Jesus said His body would be in the Earth between His death and resurrection (see Matthew 12: 39-40), not hell. But His divinity went to heaven, just as He told the thief it would (see Luke 23: 43).

[Spunkykneebiter]

When you understand that hell being cut off from God the source of anything good, you realize that Jesus descended into hell when God turned his back on him because of our sins. Also you can't use time arguments against Jesus God the creator of time. The thief on the cross would be with Jesus that day for him but that doesn't mean God being Jesus is trapped by time and has to go there that day also.