Biblical Debates: Did Jesus Descend into Hell?

Christian Pure Team

/
PinterestReddit

Summary

  • The phrase “He descended into hell” from the Apostles’ Creed refers to Jesus going to the realm of the dead, traditionally understood as Sheol or Hades, not the place of eternal punishment.
  • Early Christians believed Jesus descended to rescue the righteous souls who died before Him, declaring victory over sin and death during this time.
  • Different Christian denominations interpret this descent in various ways, ranging from a literal understanding of Jesus visiting Hades to metaphorical interpretations emphasizing His suffering on the cross.
  • Understanding the biblical words associated with this concept is essential, as terms like Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus have distinct meanings that inform the discussion of Jesus’ actions after His death.

Unraveling a powerful Mystery: Did Jesus Descend into Hell? Our wonderful Christian faith is built on some powerful, foundational truths, isn’t it? We know about the amazing life, the incredible sacrifice on the cross, and the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And right in there, in one of the oldest statements of what Christians believe, the Apostles’ Creed, there’s a little phrase: “He descended into hell.” this line, tucked right between Jesus being buried and then…

Continue reading with a subscription

Get unlimited access to all our premium content and exclusive features.

Subscribe Now

Enjoy unlimited access, cancel anytime.

Bibliography (Click to show)

“Bibliography:

  1. He Descended to Hell: An Investigation of the Harrowing of Hell in …, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.equip.org/articles/he-descended-to-hell-an-investigation-of-the-harrowing-of-hell-in-the-apostles-creed/
  2. Harrowing of Hell – Wikipedia, accessed May 15, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell
  3. On Removing the Descent Clause from the Creeds | Biblical …, accessed May 15, 2025, https://secundumscripturas.com/2016/07/21/on-removing-the-descent-clause-from-the-creeds/
  4. “He Descended into Hell” – Reformed Faith & Practice, accessed May 15, 2025, https://journal.rts.edu/article/he-descended-into-hell/
  5. Why Did Jesus Descend into Hell? | The Divine Mercy, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/why-did-jesus-descend-hell
  6. Did Jesus Really Descend into Hell? – St. Paul Center, accessed May 15, 2025, https://stpaulcenter.com/did-jesus-really-descend-into-hell/
  7. Why Does the Apostles' Creed Say That Jesus 'Descended Into Hell'?, accessed May 15, 2025, https://bustedhalo.com/features/religionandspirituality/why-does-the-apostles-creed-say-that-jesus-descended-into-hell
  8. Did Jesus go to hell between His death and resurrection? | GotQuestions.org, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-go-to-hell.html
  9. Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? – Ken Collins, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.kencollins.com/answers/question-37.htm
  10. catholicvirginian.org, accessed May 15, 2025, https://catholicvirginian.org/columns/questions-answers/what-descended-into-hell-means-in-the-apostles-creed/#:~:text=Until%20Jesus%20had%20completed%20his,them%20with%20him%20to%20heaven.
  11. stpaulcenter.com, accessed May 15, 2025, https://stpaulcenter.com/did-jesus-really-descend-into-hell/#:~:text=The%20Catechism%20of%20the%20Catholic,about%20hell%20began%20to%20change.
  12. Christ's Descent to the Dead – Seedbed, accessed May 15, 2025, https://seedbed.com/christs-descent-to-the-dead/
  13. Jesus' Descent into Hell – St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/JesusDescentintoHell
  14. A Patristic Root In Reformed Theology Part 3: Interpretation Of The Descent | The Heidelblog, accessed May 15, 2025, https://heidelblog.net/2024/03/a-patristic-root-in-reformed-theology-part-3-interpretation-of-the-descent/
  15. Gehenna – Wikipedia, accessed May 15, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gehenna
  16. ' … He descended to Hell' Need to emphasise that Christ really died on the Cross – The Methodist Church in Singapore, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.methodist.org.sg/methodist-message/he-descended-to-hell-need-to-emphasise-that-christ-really-died-on-the-cross/
  17. The Descent of Christ – Some Questions and Answers | Summit Christian Fellowship, accessed May 15, 2025, https://summit-christian.org/blog/2023/05/24/the-descent-of-christ-some-questions-and-answers
  18. Did Christ literally descend into hell? : r/Reformed – Reddit, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Reformed/comments/1bfl8ws/did_christ_literally_descend_into_hell/
  19. Acts 2:27-31 Did Jesus Suffer in Hell? | mirroridentity – WordPress.com, accessed May 15, 2025, https://mirroridentity.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/acts-227-31-did-jesus-suffer-in-hell/
  20. Did Christ Suffer in Hell? – Berean Bible Society, accessed May 15, 2025, https://bereanbiblesociety.org/did-christ-suffer-in-hell/
  21. What is Hades? – HE Phillips, accessed May 15, 2025, https://hephillips.org/articles/hades/what-is-hades
  22. 1 Peter 3:18-20: Did Jesus Preach in Hell? – Alpha and Omega …, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.aomin.org/aoblog/exegesis/1-peter-318-20-did-jesus-preach-in-hell/
  23. Christ's Descent to the Dead – The Gospel Coalition, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/christs-descent-dead/
  24. en.wikipedia.org, accessed May 15, 2025, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheol#:~:text=Sheol%20(%2F%CB%88%CA%83i%CB%90.,darkness%20which%20lies%20after%20death.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheol#:~:text=Sheol%20(%2F%CB%88%CA%83i%CB%90.,darkness%20which%20lies%20after%20death.)
  25. Sheol | Definition, Meaning in Hebrew Bible, & Facts | Britannica, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/sheol
  26. en.wikipedia.org, accessed May 15, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_Hades#:~:text=Hades%2C%20according%20to%20various%20Christian,the%20Jewish%20concept%20of%20Sheol.
  27. Christian views on Hades – Wikipedia, accessed May 15, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_Hades
  28. The Fallen Angels in “Tartarus” – Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies, accessed May 15, 2025, https://emmausinstitute.net/the-fallen-angels-in-tartarus/
  29. Ask the Register: what is Tartarus? – Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.lincolndiocese.org/news/diocesan-news/17695-ask-the-register-what-is-tartarus
  30. If Hell is a place of torture, why was Jesus in Hell for 3 days before God resurrected Him (Acts 2:31 King James Bible)? – Quora, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.quora.com/If-Hell-is-a-place-of-torture-why-was-Jesus-in-Hell-for-3-days-before-God-resurrected-Him-Acts-2-31-King-James-Bible
  31. What is Hades/Sheol : r/TrueChristian – Reddit, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/1e5zuy7/what_is_hadessheol/
  32. What does the Apostles' Creed mean by "He descended to the dead"? – Youth Pastor Theologian, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.youthpastortheologian.com/blog/what-does-the-apostles-creed-mean-by-he-descended-to-the-dead
  33. The Descent of Christ in Ephesians 4:9: Its Impact Upon the Use of …, accessed May 15, 2025, https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=honors
  34. What does it mean that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the …, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/descended-into-the-lower-parts-of-the-earth.html
  35. Romans 10:6–7 ESV – But the righteousness based… | Biblia, accessed May 15, 2025, https://biblia.com/bible/esv/romans/10/6-7
  36. Romans 10:6-7 KJV – Bible.com, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.10.6-7.KJV
  37. Romans 10:6-7 NIV – But the righteousness that is by faith – Bible …, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A6-7&version=NIV
  38. descent to the dead | Biblical Reasoning, accessed May 15, 2025, https://secundumscripturas.com/tag/descent-to-the-dead/
  39. Understanding 1 Peter 3:18-20… When Jesus was crucified, did He …, accessed May 15, 2025, http://helpmewithbiblestudy.org/7humans/DeathUnderstanding1Peter3_18.aspx
  40. When Did Jesus Preach to Spirits in Prison? | Thomas Schreiner on 1 Peter 3:18–22, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-jesus-spirits-prison-1peter3/
  41. Did Jesus Really Visit Hell? If Yes, Why? – The Lutheran Witness, accessed May 15, 2025, https://witness.lcms.org/2010/did-jesus-really-visit-hell-if-yes-why-2-2010/
  42. Harrowing of Hell – The Episcopal Church, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/harrowing-of-hell/
  43. covenantlifetampa.org, accessed May 15, 2025, https://covenantlifetampa.org/2017/01/the-confusion-and-controversy-of-1-peter-319-20/#:~:text=Between%20His%20death%20and%20resurrection,during%20the%20time%20of%20Noah.
  44. the descent of christ into hades – in eastern and western theological traditions – St. James Orthodox Church, accessed May 15, 2025, https://stjamesorthodox.org/files/articles/Bishop-Hilarion—Christ-the-Conqueror-of-Hades.pdf
  45. en.wikipedia.org, accessed May 15, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell#:~:text=The%20term%20'Harrowing%20of%20Hell,of%20the%20Old%20Testament%20period.
  46. Controversy over Christ's Descent into Hell – Book of Concord, accessed May 15, 2025, https://thebookofconcord.org/introductory-materials/historical-introductions/controversy-over-christs-descent-into-hell/
  47. The Dogma of Christ's Descent into Hades – Orthodox Christian Network, accessed May 15, 2025, https://myocn.net/the-dogma-of-christs-descent-into-hades/
  48. Where Did Christ Descend To? The Rationale Behind the BCP 2019's Translation of the Apostles' Creed – Anglican Compass, accessed May 15, 2025, https://anglicancompass.com/where-did-christ-descend-to-the-rationale-behind-the-bcp-2019s-translation-of-the-apostles-creed/

Discover more from Christian Pure

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

RedditWhatsApp
Share to...
CopyLinkedInMastodonPinterestPrintRedditSMSThreadsWhatsAppBlueskyVK