The mention of Jesus descending to Hell can be found in the Apostles’ Creed, which is an early statement of Christian belief, rather than directly in the Bible. However, a related biblical passage that is often interpreted to refer to this event is 1 Peter 3:19, which speaks of Jesus preaching to the spirits in prison. Another relevant passage is Ephesians 4:9, mentioning that Jesus «descended into the lower parts of the earth.» These scriptures are thought to suggest a descent to a realm of the dead or to those not in Heaven.
1 Peter 3:19
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.
1 Peter 3:19
Ephesians 4:9
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:9
Why did Jesus descend to hell according to the Bible?
According to the Bible, Jesus descended to hell after His crucifixion and before His resurrection. This event is mentioned as part of explaining the full extent of His work to redeem humanity. The key idea here is that Jesus went to the very depths, to the most distant place from God, represented as «hell» or «the lower parts of the earth,» to reach all who are lost, even those already departed. This shows the completeness of His victory over sin and death.
In 1 Peter 3:19, it’s described that Jesus «preached unto the spirits in prison.» This passage suggests that during His descent, Jesus proclaimed His victory to the spirits or souls who had passed away before His coming. It signifies that Jesus’s redemption is not limited by time and reaches back to those who were once disobedient long ago. This action underscores His role as the Savior not just for the living but also for the dead, emphasizing His mercy and the breadth of God’s plan for salvation.
Ephesians 4:9 further explains this by stating that before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He first descended into the lower parts of the earth. This descent and subsequent ascent highlight His mastery over all realms—Heaven, earth, and hell. The descent into hell is thus an essential part of demonstrating that Jesus has authority over all places and states of being. His ascent into Heaven, where He reigns now, is made even more powerful by this act of first descending to the lowest places.
For evangelical believers, this teaching reassures us that there is no place beyond the reach of God’s love and salvation, not even hell. It reinforces the belief that Jesus’s sacrifice was all-encompassing, providing hope and redemption for all, across all times and places. This aspect of Jesus’s journey is crucial for understanding the depth of God’s love and the extent of Jesus’s victory over sin, which He achieved not only on the cross but also in His descent to reclaim those far from God’s presence.