Did Jesus descend into Hell when he died on the cross?

[NathanH83]

I was not aware of this verse for the subject question at the time I posted. However, I am not convinced this is saying He descended into Hell. Lower parts of the land or earth might simply be saying that he came down from Heaven (the incarnation). His birth was in the lower parts of society (horse barn in town instead of a castle). So, I don't know.

Can you show a scripture verse that contradicts the claim that Jesus descended into Hell?

 

[NathanH83]

I used to think that this scripture contradicts the idea that Jesus descended into Hell:

“And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

-Luke 23:43 - Bible Gateway passage: Luke 23:43 - New King James Version

Jesus didn’t go to Hell! He went to paradise that very day!

But then I noticed this phrase:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.”
-1 Peter 3:18-20 - Bible Gateway passage: 1 Peter 3:18-20 - New King James Version

Notice how it says BY WHOM.

In other words, it was BY THE SPIRIT that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the Earth to preach the good news to the spirits in prison who sinned in Noah’s day.

Jesus was STILL IN PARADISE with the Father, and with thief on the cross. But BY THE SPIRIT he also descended into Hell to preach to those who sinned in Noah’s day. He was actually in BOTH places, because BY THE SPIRIT he can be in multiple places at once.

Now it makes sense!

 

[Lamb]

Thanks for telling me. I wouldn't have known otherwise.

Seriously? You're just being technical.

I have to be technical because this site has lurkers of people who don't know much about the Bible. So let's get things straight the first time and make it better for THEM. Doesn't that make sense?

 

[NathanH83]

I have to be technical because this site has lurkers of people who don't know much about the Bible. So let's get things straight the first time and make it better for THEM. Doesn't that make sense?

I think I was clear enough for any normal person to understand. You don’t always have to specify every aspect in every technical detail in order for people to get what you’re saying. Even people who haven’t read the Bible know that Jesus was buried after dying in the cross. You’re splitting hairs over nothing.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

I think I was clear enough for any normal person to understand. You don’t always have to specify every aspect in every technical detail in order for people to get what you’re saying. Even people who haven’t read the Bible know that Jesus was buried after dying in the cross. You’re splitting hairs over nothing.

buried? Not. Rather, He was laid in a tomb.

What is the difference between burial and entombment? » US Urns Online

In this article, we are going to talk about the difference between burial and entombment while explaining the meaning of these two common funeral terms.

www.usurnsonline.com

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Can you show a scripture verse that contradicts the claim that Jesus descended into Hell?

I don't know that we can conclusively prove it in either direction. But I tend to go with Augustine (from the linked article I posted above), that it is not something Jesus did between His death and resurrection, but rather something he did in the spiritual realm of existence ("by the Spirit") at the time of Noah. That is, Jesus was preaching through Noah to the Godless people at the time Noah was building the ark.

 

[Lamb]

I think I was clear enough for any normal person to understand. You don’t always have to specify every aspect in every technical detail in order for people to get what you’re saying. Even people who haven’t read the Bible know that Jesus was buried after dying in the cross. You’re splitting hairs over nothing.

You're trying to defend your poor wording. Just get it right the first time.

 

[Lamb]

buried? Not. Rather, He was laid in a tomb.

What is the difference between burial and entombment? » US Urns Online

In this article, we are going to talk about the difference between burial and entombment while explaining the meaning of these two common funeral terms.

www.usurnsonline.com

That was considered a burial.

 

[NathanH83]

You're trying to defend your poor wording. Just get it right the first time.

Poor wording? Hardly. Any normal person knew what I meant. Why are you being so insulting, judgmental, and hostile?

ANYWAY, can we get back to the topic instead of splitting hairs over unrelated matters?

 

[Lamb]

Poor wording? Hardly. Any normal person knew what I meant. Why are you being so insulting, judgmental, and hostile?

ANYWAY, can we get back to the topic instead of splitting hairs over unrelated matters?

Stop. Say what you mean the first time and this kind of thing won't happen.

 

[NathanH83]

Stop. Say what you mean the first time and this kind of thing won't happen.

I said what I meant. Did Jesus descend into Hell when he died on the cross?

He was buried after dying on the cross. It all happened the same day. So I said what I meant.

So…back to the subject matter, please? Stop changing the subject.

If you don’t want to get back to the subject matter, then can you at least expound on what you’re getting at? Are you trying to suggest Jesus was doing something different during the few hours between dying on the cross and being buried? Explain.

 

[Lamb]

I said what I meant. Did Jesus descend into Hell when he died on the cross?

He was buried after dying on the cross. It all happened the same day. So I said what I meant.

So…back to the subject matter, please? Stop changing the subject.

If you don’t want to get back to the subject matter, then can you at least expound on what you’re getting at? Are you trying to suggest Jesus was doing something different during the few hours between dying on the cross and being buried? Explain.

Jesus did not go to hell while He was still on the cross because Luke 23:43 states that to the thief on the cross: Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Besides, the reason He descended into hell was to declare victory over death and that means that He rose and that happened in the tomb where He was buried. 1 Peter 3:19 Jesus answered him, “After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—.”

So your title is incorrect and misleads because it totally negates Jesus' resurrection!!

 

[NathanH83]

Jesus did not go to hell while He was still on the cross because Luke 23:43 states that to the thief on the cross: Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Besides, the reason He descended into hell was to declare victory over death and that means that He rose and that happened in the tomb where He was buried. 1 Peter 3:19 Jesus answered him, “After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—.”

So your title is incorrect and misleads because it totally negates Jesus' resurrection!!

1 Peter 4 says Jesus preached the gospel to the dead. The word “gospel” means “good news.”

What was the good news Jesus had for the sinners burning in Hell?

“Good news, everyone! You’re stuck down here and you’ll never get out! Stinks to be you. Bye!”

THAT’S NOT GOOD NEWS!

I would imagine it was more like this:

“Good news, everyone! I just atoned for your sins!”

Then, he ascended on high and “led captivity captive.” (Ephesians 4)

 

[Lamb]

1 Peter 4 says Jesus preached the gospel to the dead. The word “gospel” means “good news.”

What was the good news Jesus had for the sinners burning in Hell?

“Good news, everyone! You’re stuck down here and you’ll never get out! Stinks to be you. Bye!”

THAT’S NOT GOOD NEWS!

I would imagine it was more like this:

“Good news, everyone! I just atoned for your sins!”

Then, he ascended on high and “led captivity captive.” (Ephesians 4)

The Good News is that Jesus overcame death. Yes, He preached the Gospel because scripture says that He did and He descended into Hell because scripture says that He did.

 

[Albion]

1 Peter 4 says Jesus preached the gospel to the dead. The word “gospel” means “good news.”

What was the good news Jesus had for the sinners burning in Hell?

Answer: They were now freed to finish their journey to Heaven. That would be considered as Good News to most people.

As was said earlier, "Hell" in this case refers to Hades, not to the place of the damned in particular. Instead, it's Abraham's Bosom, AKA Paradise, where those who lived before the Incarnation and were in God's favor (Moses, Abraham, for example) were. They were ineligible for Heaven until the redeeming Sacrifice for sin had occurred, This was resolved with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord.

It was to them that he went after his physical death; and he did so in order to proclaim that their redemption had occurred. It would surely seem like gloating on Christ's part if he were to have gone instead to the abode of the damned.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Answer: They were now freed to finish their journey to Heaven. That would be considered as Good News to most people.

As was said earlier, "Hell" in this case refers to Hades, not to the place of the damned in particular. Instead, it's Abraham's Bosom, AKA Paradise, where those who lived before the Incarnation and were in God's favor (Moses, Abraham, for example) were. They were ineligible for Heaven until the redeeming Sacrifice for sin had occurred, This was resolved with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord.

It was to them that he went after his physical death; and he did so in order to proclaim that their redemption had occurred. It would surely seem like gloating on Christ's part if he were to have gone instead to the abode of the damned.

Case closed! He did not descend into Hell, but to the captives who were waiting for release by the shed blood of Jesus our King.

 

[NathanH83]

Answer: They were now freed to finish their journey to Heaven. That would be considered as Good News to most people.

As was said earlier, "Hell" in this case refers to Hades, not to the place of the damned in particular. Instead, it's Abraham's Bosom, AKA Paradise, where those who lived before the Incarnation and were in God's favor (Moses, Abraham, for example) were. They were ineligible for Heaven until the redeeming Sacrifice for sin had occurred, This was resolved with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord.

It was to them that he went after his physical death; and he did so in order to proclaim that their redemption had occurred. It would surely seem like gloating on Christ's part if he were to have gone instead to the abode of the damned.

The sinners in Noah’s day were in God’s favor?

 

[Albion]

It is normally believed by both Catholic and Protestant churches that the great personalities of the Old Testament and servants of God, such as Noah, Moses, Aaron, Abraham, and etc., were not sent straightway to eternal torment with the most evil people in history, no. But of course, the reconciliation of mankind with God that was effected by Christ had yet to occur, so they couldn't be in Heaven, either.

As we've discussed in several threads lately, the Bible also speaks of Abraham's Bosom and of Paradise.

What are they all about and what were they for?

The belief is that these are references to a state of being in the afterlife for those people who otherwise would have been saved...but, having lived before the coming of Christ, couldn't have been saved then.

With the Crucifixion, however, that situation changed for these souls just as salvation was made available to us through Faith in the saving work of Our Lord.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

It is normally believed by both Catholic and Protestant churches that the great personalities of the Old Testament and servants of God, such as Noah, Moses, Aaron, Abraham, and etc., were not sent straightway to eternal torment with the most evil people in history, no. But of course, the reconciliation of mankind with God that was effected by Christ had yet to occur, so they couldn't be in Heaven, either.

As we've discussed in several threads lately, the Bible also speaks of Abraham's Bosom and of Paradise.

What are they all about and what were they for?

The belief is that these are references to a state of being in the afterlife for those people who otherwise would have been saved...but, having lived before the coming of Christ, couldn't have been saved then.

With the Crucifixion, however, that situation changed for these souls just as salvation was made available to us through Faith in the saving work of Our Lord.

Interesting that in Matthew 9 you have Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration. It does not say but it seems to me, they left this temporary place to talk with Jesus on the mount. If they came from Heaven to the mount, wouldn't they have had glorified bodies? And the passage only says Jesus was changed, not Moses and Elijah.

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

 

[Odë:hgöd]

.
• Acts 2:25-33 . . David says of him: You will not abandon my soul to hades, nor
allow your Holy One to undergo decay. . . . David saw ahead and spoke of the
resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to hades, nor did his flesh
suffer decay.

Classical hades is structured sort of like Dante's Inferno; except in the New
Testament its geography is different. According to Luke 16:19-31, instead of tiers,
hades is all on one plane divided in half by an impassible space.

One side is a region of misery and the other side is a region of comfort, i.e. a
paradise.
_