Did Jesus Really Go to Hell When He Died?

It’s a question that catches people off guard. If Jesus really died, where did He go before the resurrection? Some versions of the Apostles’ Creed say He “descended into hell,” which raises even more questions. Did Jesus actually go to hell when He died? And if so, why?

First, let’s clear something up. When most people think of “hell,” they picture a place of fire, demons, and eternal punishment. But in Scripture, the word “hell” is not always used that way. The Old Testament uses the term Sheol to refer to the place of the dead, a realm where all souls go after death (good souls and bad souls, if you could call them that). In the New Testament, the Greek word Hades is often used in a similar way. It is not necessarily a place of torment. It is the general realm of the dead.

When Jesus died, His body went into the tomb, but His spirit continued to exist consciously. In Luke 23:43, Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” That tells us that Jesus didn’t go to a place of punishment, but rather to a place of peace in the presence of God. His statement also confirms that He didn’t cease to exist, and He did not enter torment.

So why do some say He went to hell? The idea often comes from a few passages that are debated among scholars. One of them is 1 Peter 3:18–20, which says that Jesus was “made alive in the spirit” and “proclaimed to the spirits in prison.” Another is Ephesians 4:9, which speaks of Him “descending to the lower regions of the earth.” These verses have been interpreted in different ways, but they seem to suggest that Jesus, after His death, entered into the realm of the dead, not to suffer, but to proclaim something.

Some Christians believe this means He announced His victory over sin and death to rebellious spiritual beings. This is supported by texts like Colossians 2:15, which says, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.” This is my take that I plan to explore in another post.

What all faithful interpretations agree on is this: Jesus did not go to hell to suffer. His work of atonement was finished on the cross. When He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He had already paid the full price for sin. There was no more punishment left to bear.

So did Jesus go to hell? Not in the way we usually think of it. He descended into the realm of the dead, but not to be tormented. He went to fulfill what was written, to fully experience death, to be with the righteous departed, and to proclaim His victory over the powers of darkness.

What matters most is that Jesus truly died, and He truly rose. His death wasn’t partial or symbolic. He entered death completely and came out victorious, securing eternal life for all who trust in Him.