Did Jesus visit Hell? - 2 Contrary opinions

Avg reading time: 17 mins

Last updated on March 12th, 2025

Outline of this Article

Intro

Many do not question, did Jesus visit hell when he died? If asked they may be certain there is a verse in Scripture which says so. But, did Jesus visit hell?

First and foremost, “did Jesus visit hell?” is definitely one of those topics that is not worth arguing about. It does not impact the outcome of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It has no direct impact on the Truth of God’s plan of Salvation by faith alone. But, if the question arises, even in your own mind, the source for the answer should always be the Bible, what God says and what He doesn’t say

Helpful Information

Before looking at the Scriptures, we should note a couple of things….

1. Multiple words – Did Jesus go down to the grave, or hell, or hades, or the place of the dead?

There are three Greek words that became “hell” in many versions of the English translation……

        “hades” from the Hebrew “Sheol”, means the place of death, or the place of the dead, or simply, the grave (see footnote to Matthew 16:18 in the NLT & NIV)
        “gehenna” refers to “the place of everlasting punishment or torment” (see footnote to Matthew 10:28 in the ESV, NLT and NKJV + other New Testament verses like Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, 18:9, 23:15; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5; James 3:6) but is more commonly called “the fiery lake” (Revelation 19:20, 21:8 and also 20:10 in the NLT)
        “tartarus” meaning dungeon (see footnote to 2 Peter 2:4) but is also translated as “the Abyss” in Luke 8:31; Revelation 9:1-2; 9:11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1; 20:3 in the NIV and “the bottomless pit” in the NLT

2. A statement from Jesus – Before he died on the Cross, Jesus told one of the criminals hanging beside him … “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NLT) and the NIV phrases Jesus’ response to the criminal as, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

“Paradise” came from the Greek word “paradeisos” which means a park that is specifically an Eden (place of happiness). However, it refers to heaven as we see in two other verses: 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7
The Expanded Bible declares “Paradise” as simply another name for “Heaven”

So much of Scripture, including Jesus’ own prophecy, tells us that His resurrection was on the third day – died on Friday, body left the grave empty on Sunday. Therefore Jesus was talking about His Spirit/soul being in heaven that day He was crucified. Similarly, the criminal would be in heaven in spirit while his body would go to a grave. But on Sunday, Jesus’ body was resurrected as will all human bodies be raised at the end of this age (Revelation 20)

Why should Jesus visit Hell? From where could the idea come?

A search of Scripture (using a concordance or even a word search in a soft copy of the Scriptures does not reveal a verse that explicitly declares that Jesus descended into hell. There are several verses that may seem to imply that He may have and are often used to build a narrative that He did. However such narratives remain a human construct, not a quote from Scripture

The Creeds – Statements of Faith

It seems the strongest source of the idea of a ‘Jesus visit hell’ event after he died are two formal statements of faith. They declare that Jesus descended into hell. They are The Athanasian Creed and the modern version of The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is a statement of Christian belief used widely throughout the Western churches (Catholic and Protestant). Its present form dates to around the 8th century. Did Jesus visit hell? It says “….. I believe in Jesus Christ …..He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell …..”. Therefore, each week possibly millions of church goers declare it as so when they recite this Creed

The Original Apostles‘ Creed

“….. the earliest written form of this [The Apostles’ Creed] creed is found in a letter that Marcellus of Ancyra wrote in Greek to Julius, the bishop of Rome, about AD 341” (logos.com). It was initially called the “Old Roman Creed” but was later referred to as the “Apostles’ Creed” around 390 by Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. This original version did not mention Jesus descending into hell. “I believe in God the Father almighty; and in Christ Jesus ….. born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, Who under Pontius Pilate was crucified and buried, on the third day rose again from the dead, …..”.

The Nicene Creed

A second statement of belief was constructed at the Council of Constantinople in 381 to settle a dispute over Jesus’ humanity/deity. It was called The Nicene Creed or formally, The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. According to Britannica.com, this Christian statement of faith is the only ecumenical creed being accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches. Speaking of Jesus, it says “ ….. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven ….. ”. No reference to going anywhere but heaven

Interestingly, only the original version of the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed reflect the Bible’s silence on this issue. It does not explicitly tell us Jesus ‘went to hell’, ‘descended into hell’ or even hint of a ‘Jesus visit hell’ moment. But does that mean the answer to “Did Jesus visit hell?” is yes or no? What are we to make of the numerous writings that construct a confidence that Jesus did go to hell, so to speak?

What does Scripture say?

Several verses of Scripture, at first, may seem to support the idea of a ‘Jesus visit hell’ moment. They include:-

i) Acts 2:27

“For you will not leave my soul among the dead [hades see footnote in the NLT] or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave”, said Peter on the day of Pentecost – quoting Psalm 16:10

Peter wasn’t answering did Jesus visit hell (hades – the grave)? He simply confirmed the prophecy of King David that Jesus’ soul would not be left among the dead like ordinary people. Nor would His body decay in the grave (hades) like ordinary humans awaiting the Lord’s return. Peter clarified that, although David was speaking in the 1st person (my soul) David was a prophet speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection (see Acts 2:29-31)

Note: Neither David’s prophecy or Peter’s quote of it mentioned Jesus descending. Peter seems to just be emphasising that Jesus Christ’s was no ordinary death. His Spirit didn’t stay in hades. Moreover, as inferred by His promise to the criminal on the cross, he didn’t go there. As mentioned above, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43). Of course, His body didn’t decay since it was resurrected on the third day

ii) Romans 10:6-7

“But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” These verses are sometimes drawn out of context and used as some indication that Jesus had descended into the abyss

However, in the context of the surrounding verses Paul was explaining the difference between salvation (righteousness) by the law and righteousness of faith. He wrote, “…. Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God” (Romans 10:4). This [righteousness by faith] is based on Jesus, and we don’t have to “work” to get Jesus. It is not as if we have to ascend into heaven or descend into the abyss to gain Jesus. We believe and receive. Instead of having to go to great lengths to achieve righteousness by the law, we immediately receive righteousness by faith by trusting in the Word of the gospel

Paul was saying nothing about Jesus going to hell. He was drawing on Moses’ call to righteousness, to choose life instead of death – read Deuteronomy 30:11-16. Salvation is not far away. In fact, he quoted Moses again, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” (Romans 10:8). Paul’s message about salvation was then expanded in the remainder of the chapter. Did Jesus visit hell? No clues in these verses

iii) Ephesians 4:7-8

“However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,‘When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people’”

Paul was using a quote from King David in Psalm 68:18 to draw the link between what Jesus accomplished on the Cross and by His resurrection – redeeming humans captives of Satan and leading them into prosperity of being made right with God (freedom from sin and spiritual death) and the great Exodus. God led the captives of Egypt out into prosperity in the promised land of milk and honey and ascended Mt Zion where He lived (in the Tabernacle) with the people

Paul took editorial licence to use this quote to emphasise his point. King David wrote that God ‘received gifts from the people’ (Psalm 68:18) and we know that‘s true from Leviticus wherein Moses said many times that the sacrifices were special gifts to God. However, in Ephesians, Paul changes the quote in verse 8 to say that Jesus ‘gave gifts to his people’. Then he went on to explain, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church …..” (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Taking David’s Psalm to also contain prophecy of Christ Paul then wrote in verse 9 … “Notice that it says ‘he ascended’. This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.”

Although some commentators view this as a descent to hell or hades, Paul doesn’t actually say so. Comparing the concept in other verses, it seems more appropriate to read it as a statement of the incarnation of Christ compared to the Glory of God leading the Israelites back in the original quote from David

A descent (to earth) makes more sense if connected to the ascent (to heaven from earth); Scripture speaks of Christ’s ascension from the presence of his apostles (Acts 1:9) and so it is in context more sensible if the descent to earth refers to the incarnation
This is consistent with other verses talking of Jesus’ descending and ascending such as
John 3:13 “No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven”
John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will”
John16:28 “Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father”

iv) 1 Peter 3:18-20

“Christ suffered [died] for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison — those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.” [emphasis added]

The word for spirits in this verse comes out of the Greek word “pneuma” which means a ‘breath’ of air (breeze) and is figuratively a human spirit in this context

If this implies Christ proclaiming his triumph and offering a 2^nd chance for salvation in hades, we must determine why. And why only to this select group, “those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat”

This understanding, that we have Jesus visit hell to preach salvation, is in disagreement with other passages in the Bible:-

a) 1 John 2:2

“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” – not just our sins, not just the sins of those who died before the flood but all sin, even those who lived and died between Noah and Jesus

b) Luke 16:22-31

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. …. the poor man, Lazarus, died and went to the heavenly banquet next to Abraham while the rich man died and went to hades, the place of the dead. In response to the rich man’s plea for even a drip of water, Abraham tells him no one can cross the gap between heaven and hades, in either direction. Thus indicating there is no opportunity for repentance after death

c) Hebrews 9:27

“….. each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgement”

St Augustine, 4^th century philosopher proposed that the passage in 1 Peter 3 does not refer to something Christ did between his death and resurrection, but to what he did “in the spiritual realm of existence” (or “through the Spirit”) at the time of Noah. When Noah was building the ark, Christ “in spirit” was preaching through Noah to the hostile unbelievers around him

It seems appropriate for Peter to make the connection between Noah and the larger context of 1 Peter 3:13–22. There are several parallels between the situation of Noah and the situation of Peter’s readers. Both were:

a religious minority
surrounded by hostile unbelievers
facing the possibility of imminent judgment
to witness to those around them
finally saved

Interestingly, Hebrews 11:7b tells us that “By his faith, Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith”. In other words, many scholars affirm that Noah preached judgment against the people around him … at least by acting out the Word from God

More definitively, 2 Peter 2:5 tells us “And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood”

v) 1 Peter 4:4-6

“Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit”

When I read the support of a ‘Jesus visit hell’ time also included these verses from 1 Peter 4, I had to read them several times, in their context. And in several different versions of the English translation

The dead, in their lifetime (every generation), have had the Good News preached to them just as the living do now. Recall Paul’s very sobering opening to his letter to the Romans?

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Romans 1:18-20)

So when Messiah comes all (the dead and the living) may be judged in the same way. Similarly, those who are now dead but died accepting the Good News during their lifetime on earth, will live in the Spirit

There is no clear hint of who did the preaching or when. All we know is that those to whom the Good News was preached, are now dead. Abraham preached the Good News of God’s promise, Noah, Moses, all the prophets …….

As Paul tells us, “….. everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23). The curse of sin is death since way back when Adam ‘blew it’. Therefore, there are no clues in the statement “—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever …..”. Except of course, that whoever those people were, they received the Good News, believed and were saved (live forever)

As the Amplified version has it ….. “For this is why the good news [of salvation] was preached [in their lifetimes] even to those who are dead, that though they were judged in the flesh as men are, they may live in the spirit according to [the will and purpose of] God” (1Peter 4:6 AMP)

Conclusion – did Jesus visit hell?

The various segments of Scriptures that have been used to support a ‘Jesus visit hell’ idea do not clearly testify about the event

In terms of the work of Christ whilst on planet Earth; see to two earlier posts … “the awesome work of Jesus here on the planet” and “the awesome work of Jesus there on the Cross”

At the conclusion of His work, our Lord declared, “‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30), indicating that He had nothing left to fulfill between His death and resurrection. Luke 23:46 suggests that Jesus expected to be reunited with His Father spiritually rather than going to hell. It records ….. “Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!^‘ And with those words he breathed his last”. Then of course there is His promise to the criminal beside him …… “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Nothing explicit in Scripture about such an important event as a Jesus visit hell moment, let alone to preach to the spirits therein. It seems to be a long stretch to see a suggestion that he did

… just sayin’

References

NIV – The Holy Bible, New International Version®. Pradis CD-ROM Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, © 1973, 1978, 1984
https://www.britannica.com
Ephesians 4 Resources, Precepts Austin – https://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_4_resources
Strongs Concordance – The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: together with Dictionaries of the Hebrew and Greek Words with references to the English words, by James Strong. Riverside Book and Bible House 93429837–8, Iowa Falls
https://www.wikipedia.org
The Apostles’ Creed: Its History and Origins – https://www.logos.com/grow/the-apostles-creed-its-history-and-origins/
The Nicene Creed – https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nicene-Creed
image – open grave by Jonny Gios on Unsplash