The Bible does not explicitly say that Jesus went to "hell" for three days. This idea is mostly derived from theological interpretations rather than direct scripture. Several passages are often cited in relation to this concept:
- The Apostles' Creed, an early Christian statement of faith, says Jesus "descended into hell" before rising on the third day.
- 1 Peter 3:18-20 mentions Jesus preaching to "the spirits in prison," which some interpret as Jesus going to hell or Hades after His death.
- Ephesians 4:8-9 speaks of Jesus descending to "the lower parts of the earth," sometimes understood as a descent into the realm of the dead.
- Matthew 12:40 compares Jesus' time in the "heart of the earth" to Jonah's three days in the belly of a great fish.
Most biblical scholars say that these scriptures do not indicate Jesus was in hell as a place of torment but rather that His spirit was in the realm of the dead (sheol or hades), possibly proclaiming victory or preaching to the dead. The idea is that Jesus' body was in the tomb and His spirit was elsewhere for those three days before His resurrection. Jesus also told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him "today in paradise" (Luke 23:43), implying Jesus did not descend into hell to suffer but went to a place of blessing. In summary, the Bible says Jesus was in the "heart of the earth" or the realm of the dead for three days but does not clearly say He was in hell for three days in a punitive sense. This topic remains a subject of theological interpretation rather than direct scriptural assertion.
