Did Jesus Descend Into Hell?

Between the crucifixion and the resurrection did Jesus descend into hell?

Reading the current English translations of Scripture it is easy to understand why some say yes. The question often arises from the King James translation of Acts 2: 27 – 31 (a quote from Psalm 16: 8 – 11), that the soul of Jesus “was left in hell.”In the Apostles Creed it is said Jesus “descended into hell” (descendit ad inferna). “Hell” in both cases refers not to the hell of eternal punishment (Gehenna), but to the realm of the dead, the underworld (OT Sheol, NT Hades). Hence modern translations of both the NT and the Creed read “Hades,” “dead,” not hell.

That coupled with I Peter 3: 18 – 20 cause some to be misinterpreting the concept. “For Christ also suffered once for sin, 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….”

Regarding this I Peter 3 passage it means in the Old Testament time He, by means of the Holy Spirit, went and preached to the people of that era who were disobedient and didn’t repent. They are now separated from God and in hell. It was not at the time of the writing of this text He preached to them. In the era of the Old Testament He preached to them, by means of the Holy Spirit, before their death while they were on earth.

The question lingers, why would Jesus have gone to hell and preached to those therein? Doing so would have been virtually a taunting, a nana-nana-nana.

Exactly where in the realm of the dead Jesus was during that interval is just one of God’s little secrets regarding something we really don’t need to know.

Exactly when He got to heaven and began His building program isn’t known. It is known He ascended into heaven and is there now preparing a place for all who by faith place their trust in Him obediently.

In order that provision be made for whosoever will join Him in heaven, “… Christ also suffered once for sin, 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….”

Jesus took our sin on Himself at Calvary and offers to apply His righteousness to whosoever will receive it. Thereby one is prepared to live an abundant life and then go to heaven.

A related relative issue is are you prepared for that prepared place?