For centuries, a significant misconception has prevailed around the idea that Jesus went to hell after His crucifixion to preach to the spirits in prison, before His resurrection.
According to the 4th century Apostle’s Creed, Jesus “descended to into ‘Sheol’–– witch means realm of the death, or Hell,” following his crucifixion. This Christian view holds the theory that Jesus spent the gap between his death and resurrection journeying to the underworld to liberate the imprisoned souls of the Hebrew patriarchs who had been imprisoned there since their deaths.
But the passage of Scripture most referred to by those who believe the hell theory is 1 Peter 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; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 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.”
However, according to Jesus’ statement in Luke 23:42, when one dies they enter the presence of God immediately. “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” Jesus told the thief. This statement tells us that Jesus went to His Father upon death.
Beyond this, we know very little about where Jesus was after His crucifixion, and prior to His resurrection.
What do you believe? Please share your thoughts and opinion in the comments section below!
Continue Reading