concept that Jesus went to hell after His death on the cross comes
primarily from the Apostles' Creed, which states, "He descended into
hell." There are also a few Scriptures which, depending on how they
are translated, describe Jesus going to "hell." In studying this
issue, it is important to first understand what the Bible teaches
about the realm of the dead.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the
dead is sheol. It simply means "the place of the dead" or "the place
of departed souls/spirits." The New Testament Greek equivalent of
sheol is hades, which also refers to "the place of the dead." Other
Scriptures in the New Testament indicate that sheol/hades is a
temporary place, where souls are kept as they await the final
resurrection and judgment. Revelation 20:11–15 gives a clear
distinction between hades and the lake of fire. The lake of fire is
the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost. Hades, then,
is a temporary place. Many people refer to both hades and the lake of
fire as "hell," and this causes confusion. Jesus did not go to a place
of torment after His death, but He did go to hades.
Sheol/hades was a realm with two divisions—a place of blessing and a
place of judgment (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts
2:27–31). The abodes of the saved and the lost are both generally
called "hades" in the Bible. The abode of the saved is also called
"Abraham's bosom" (KJV) or "Abraham's side" (NIV) in Luke 16:22 and
"paradise" in Luke 23:43. The abode of the unsaved is called "hell"
(KJV) or "Hades" (NIV) in Luke 16:23. The abodes of the saved and the
lost are separated by a "great chasm" (Luke 16:26). When Jesus died,
He went to the blessed side of sheol and, from there, took the
believers with Him to heaven (Ephesians 4:8–10). The judgment side of
sheol/hades has remained unchanged. All unbelieving dead go there
awaiting their final judgment in the future. Did Jesus go to
sheol/hades? Yes, according to Ephesians 4:8–10 and 1 Peter 3:18–20.
Some of the confusion has arisen from such passages as Psalm 16:10–11
as translated in the King James Version: "For thou wilt not leave my
soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption. . . . Thou wilt show me the path of life." "Hell" is not a
correct translation in this verse. A correct reading would be "the
grave" or "sheol." Jesus said to the thief beside Him, "Today you will
be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43); He did not say, "I will see you
in hell." Jesus' body was in the tomb; His soul/spirit went to be with
the blessed in sheol/hades. Unfortunately, in many versions of the
Bible, translators are not consistent, or correct, in how they
translate the Hebrew and Greek words for "sheol," "hades," and "hell."
Some have the viewpoint that Jesus went to "hell" or the suffering
side of sheol/hades in order to further be punished for our sins. This
idea is completely unbiblical. It was the death of Jesus on the cross
that sufficiently provided for our redemption. It was His shed blood
that effected our own cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7–9). As He hung
there on the cross, He took the sin burden of the whole human race
upon Himself. He became sin for us: "God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"
(2 Corinthians 5:21). This imputation of sin helps us understand
Christ's struggle in the garden of Gethsemane with the cup of sin
which would be poured out upon Him on the cross.
As Jesus neared death, He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). His
suffering in our place was completed. His soul/spirit went to hades
(the place of the dead). Jesus did not go to "hell" or the suffering
side of hades; He went to "Abraham's side" or the blessed side of
hades. Jesus' suffering ended the moment He died. The payment for sin
was paid. He then awaited the resurrection of His body and His return
to glory in His ascension. Did Jesus go to hell? No. Did Jesus go to
sheol/hades? Yes.
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