Did Jesus go into Hell for 3 days after He died on the cross?

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   Team Wisemanposted 11 years ago

   Did Jesus go into Hell for 3 days after He died on the cross?
   
   If so, what did He do there?
   
   

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   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   The Bible does not specifically state what happened to Jesus immediately after He died on the cross.  Because of this, there is debate surrounding the answer to the question of where He went and what He did.  So, I will present differing views so you might know the scope of the answer and decide for yourself which position is preferable.
   
   Perhaps the best known scripture that appears to deal with this issue is found in 1 Pet. 3:18-20,
   
   "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water."
   
   When Jesus was made alive in the spirit, it is not saying that His spirit died and then it became alive again.  "Made alive in the spirit" is contrasted with "put to death in the flesh."  He first lived as mortal men but "...He began to live a spiritual 'resurrection' life, whereby He has the power to bring us to God." Furthermore, some Bibles (NIV, KJV, and NKJV) render the verse as "made alive by the Spirit," referring to the Holy Spirit's work with Christ.   “By the Spirit” translates one word, pneumati, which could refer to the third Person of the Trinity as the agent of Christ’s resurrection.
   
   One view where Jesus was and what He did before His resurrection is that He went to Hades (the place of the dead) and made proclamation to those who were in spiritual prison.   The word "proclamation" in Greek is kerusso.  It means to proclaim and is a different word than "euaggelizo" which means to preach the gospel.  Therefore, it is most probable that Jesus was not preaching the gospel to those in Hades/Spirit prison so they could be saved, but was instead proclaiming the truth to them.  After all, the Bible says, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment," (Heb. 9:27).
   
   But who were the ones in spiritual prison?  Some believe it is the people who were alive at the time of Noah's flood and who were killed in the flood.  Others believe it is all humanity who died before the time of the cross.  There seems to be support for the former position in 2 Pet. 2:4-5,

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      Team Wisemanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, from your detailed and informative answer, I have concluded that He did go to hell and paradise both. I think that maybe He stood in the 'Great Gulf' in between those two areas. Just my opinion and thought though. God is welcome to change m mind

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      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed Team!!

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   renegadetoryposted 11 years ago

   Translators yet again got it wrong.  They translated "Sheol" into "hell" as the verse you are referring to is Psalm 16:10 in the OT and then the same passage is spoken of by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2: 27-32.  Translators used the word "hell" to when they should have translated sheol into "grave" or "pit."

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      Team Wisemanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank You!

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   Pool Of Thoughtsposted 11 years ago

   Yes, He did. He preached to the lost souls/spirits in prison who repented not in the days of Noah. He was a witness of the fulfillment of the prophets to them. His last ministry was to the total lost who could never repent but had sinned away their day of Grace. Mockers, blasphemers, despisers of those who were good and all the like.
   I Peter 3:18-22
   
   I'm NOT depending on my works, I'm depending on His Grace alone. I've accepted His invitation and I'm willing to bear the reproach of Christ. God is not mocked.

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      Team Wisemanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Amen. Jesus Christ is that Good that He would give all the opportunity to accept Him, seems only fair and Christ is Awesome enough to pull souls right out of hell. He pulled mine out! Best Answer!

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