What Hell Did Jesus Go To, and Why Did He Go There?

"Jesus went to hell so we do not have to go" was the title of the sermon.

This is one of the most despicable lies presented by the deceived trapped preachers of religion, especially when the hell referred to is the fire and brimstone hell of religion.

The Bible does not support it...it is deception's lie and it is an atrocity to present it as a part of the Gospel. As we will find out...it is a direct contradiction to the words of Jesus. Jesus took up on Himself our sins on the cross, He did not go to hell so people do not have to go there.

Did Jesus really go to a hell fire and brimstone hell between the cross and the resurrection? That is what most denominations think when they read the line in...not the bible...but in the Apostles' Creed that states, "He descended to hell." Some have changed the creed to read, "He descended to the dead".

The thing we need to realize is that the Apostles’ Creed is not a passage from the Bible. Also, it was not actually written by the Apostles, it is a man made creation. Any creation by man is only as good as far as it is supported by Scriptures. Never put them on a level where they are given gospel status.

Another thing to realize is the phrase “He descended to hell” is not found in any of the earliest versions of the Creed such as the “Old Roman” version. It actually does not appear until the mid-seventh century, at least not with the understanding of "hell" rather than the grave. We do have a version from the end of the 4th century by Rufinus that includes "descended into hell" but the writer specifically notes that he understands the term to simply mean that Christ was buried. The Greek term is hades, which can simply mean “grave” rather than hell.

After Rufinus, we don't see the entire phrase again until the mid-seventh century. (Wayne Grudem, “He Did Not Descent Into Hell: A Plea for Following Scripture Instead of the Apostles’ Creed.")

The Old Roman Creed, from the second half of the second century, simply says that Jesus was crucified, buried, and then rose from the dead. (O.G. Oliver, Jr., “Apostles’ Creed,” In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell)

Most importantly, the Bible does not teach that Jesus went to hell so we would not have to go. Remember what Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross next to Him. Jesus told him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). This thief, and Jesus, would be in Paradise that day, not hell. Luke 23:46 records Jesus saying, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” before He died. John 19:30 records Jesus saying, “It is finished,” as He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. When Jesus died on the cross, He had finished the work of atonement. He did not then spend three days burning in hell to pay for our sins. That work was finished on the cross. When Scripture discusses how Jesus paid for our sins, it consistently points to the cross (1 Cor. 1:17-18; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:16; Phil. 2:8; Col. 1:20; 2:14; Heb. 12:2) not to any suffering in hell.

Jesus went to the abode of the dead to liberate the Old Testament saints and bring the gospel to non-saints...He did not go there so we would not have to go there.

- Glenn Regular