3 Reasons Jesus Did Not Go To Hell

[Chaps]

1 Peter 3:18–22 (ESV): For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Many who read the above verses are quick to conclude that Jesus went to Hell (or the place of torment) to preach to the captives there. I reject this position. I do not think the above verses teach this. Here are three reasons why:

1. The context does not support it.
The context of these verses is an encouragement from Peter to continue to do good and be faithful even in the face of false accusations and persecutions. Why would Jesus preaching to those in torment from the days of Noah provide encouragement to these Christians to endure faithfully?

2. The Spirit of Christ = The Holy Spirit.
Peter here is referring to the spirit of Christ that preached to the disobedient. In other words, Peter is referring to the preaching of Noah that was inspired by the Holy Spirit/Spirit of Christ. We see this terminology used elsewhere in this same letter from Peter:

1 Peter 1:10–11 (ESV): 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

So, Peter also refers to the “Spirit of Christ” at work in the prophets just two chapters prior. Thus, it would only make sense here that Peter is also referring to the preaching of the Spirit of Christ in Noah just prior to the flood. The ”disobedient” are now in prison due to their rejection of that preaching, not that the preaching happened while they are were in spiritual prison.

3. The Bible does not teach post-mortem repentance.
Hebrews 9:27 (ESV): And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Not only does the Bible not teach the possibility of post-mortem repentance, it teaches the opposite. Only in this life do we have the opportunity to repent and find salvation. If the dead have the opportunity to repent at the preaching of Jesus, why should we preach? And if the opportunity was only afforded to those from the days of Noah, why would God grant them this unique opportunity? And again, what would the idea of post-mortem repentance have to do with encouraging Christians to endure hardship for the sake of righteousness? Wouldn‘t the idea of the wicked getting a second chance to repent be, at best irrelevant, and at worst discouraging? Some might argue that Jesus‘ preaching to them in prison does not mean they were able to repent. Why would Jesus preach to the condemned if they had no opportunity to respond? Just to show them how wrong they were? And again, if so, why focus specifically on the disobedient in Noah’s time and not in Jeremiah or Isaiah’s time?

What is Peter teaching?
For me, the clear message here from Peter is that Christians should not shrink back from suffering for righteousness’ sake. The struggle they are facing is a temporary one. One day, they will be saved from the challenges they now face. Just as Noah was mocked and scoffed at, enduring the evils of his era righteously, he was saved by God from that evil through the flood. The wicked that persecuted Noah in his righteousness and obedience are now in prison. In the same way, baptism saves us from the evil of this world and points to our ultimate salvation from those who mock, scoff, and mistreat us. Thus, we should not be discouraged or lose heart. Just as Noah was vindicated, so also, Christians will be vindicated who remain faithful and do not lose heart.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Many who read the above verses are quick to conclude that Jesus went to Hell (or the place of torment)

The Bible is very clear that Christ did NOT go to Gehenna, which is the Luke of Fire, and the real Hell. No one has gone into the Lake of Fire as yet.

But the word "hell" was mistakenly used for the place called Sheol in the OT and Hades in the NT. And that is exactly where Christ was for three days and three nights after His crucifixion and before His resurrection. And here is the evidence:

For thou wilt not leave my soul in [Sheol]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10 KJB)
International Standard Version
For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, you will not allow your holy one to experience corruption.
***************
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in [Hades], neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27 KJB)
Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550
ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψεις τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ᾅδου, οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν
International Standard Version
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or allow your Holy One to experience decay.

After death all souls and spirits (righteous or unrighteous) went to Hades until the resurrection of Christ. It was virtually a prison for the righteous until the resurrection of Christ. But Tartarus -- the prison for evil angels -- is in close proximity. So Christ PROCLAIMED His victory on the cross to all these souls and spirits and evil angels. Not the Gospel because that was not the purpose.

Then upon His resurrection, He took all the OT saints with Him to Heaven (the New Jerusalem). But the unrighteous and the evil angels will wait for their final judgment in the future.

 

[birdie]

Thanks Chaps for your interest in whether Jesus went to Hell or not.

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: "

When the Bible talks about the 'spirits in prison' in this scripture it simply means the unsaved persons - they are the 'spirits in prison' in Bible lingo. It is not talking about the unsaved being in any kind of underworld hell except in the sense that they are people who are unsaved and need saving (even as they walk around on earth). The example is used about how formerly disobedient persons turned to God during the times of Noah, eight souls. They were preached to by the spirit in the sense that God's spirit was alive in Noah, a preacher of righteousness. The water in Noah's case was a picture of the gospel, the word of God, which became a flood buoying up those who had turned to God but destroying those who did not receive the preaching. The word of God saved those who received the message in Noah's day, as they were then in covenant with God (the ark is a picture of that), whereas before they had before been unsaved ('were sometimes disobedient') and in prison spiritually speaking. The water flooded and destroyed those that did not receive the message. Notice how the scripture above tells us the purpose of baptism, which is a word describing being washed free from the stain of sin by the word of God: "that he might bring us to God". We have the gospel mentioned in the scripture above: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust". The scripture above tells us that Noah's day is a picture of being washed free from the stain of sin and is applicable to the situation today. The spirit preaches the gospel and those that are washed, having turned to God, are saved, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Indeed Christ resurrects the spirit of those who are turned to him.

 

[ewq1938]

Act 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Act 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell (hades), neither his flesh did see corruption.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.


Proof Jesus' soul was in Hades.


Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)


Hades is said to exist "downward" implying it's somewhere in the Earth, in a spiritual dimension of course, 2Pe_2:4, Luk_10:15, Eze_31:16, Isa_14:15.

 

[birdie]

Thanks ewq1938. I appreciated your scripture Acts 2:31 about Jesus' soul was not left in hell, and Ephesians 4:9 about Jesus first going into the lower parts of the earth. Indeed, there is not an area of evil or torment that Jesus has not gotten victory over. He went all the way down, spiritually speaking, and so can save anyone.
Prior to being saved, humans are dead spiritually in trespasses and sins, as you are already aware, I'm sure. That is what is meant by Ephesians 2:1: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; " The scripture 1 Peter 3:18-22 mentioned by Chaps is talking about this scenario. It mentions spirits in prison. When it mentions these spirits in prison, it is talking about persons who are walking around but who are dead in trespasses and sins spiritually speaking. The scripture in 1 Peter goes on to say that the spirit of Christ preaches the gospel, both in Noah's day, and today in the same way, such that those who were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins can hear the message of the gospel and be saved. In that sense, the scripture in 1 Peter mentioned by Chaps is not talking about persons who have already died physically and are in a hell underworld. It is talking about persons who are in prison spiritually and walking around on earth, as it were, until they hear the preaching and become saved.

 

[ewq1938]

When it mentions these spirits in prison, it is talking about persons who are walking around but who are dead in trespasses and sins spiritually speaking.

Spiritually dead people aren't also alive and walking around in prison. The passage is speaking of hades as a prison where the souls of the unsaved go.


1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

The context is what Christ did while he was dead.

 

[birdie]

Spiritually dead people aren't also alive and walking around in prison. The passage is speaking of hades as a prison where the souls of the unsaved go.


1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

The context is what Christ did while he was dead.

Those who have not been born again are spiritually dead and need to be quickened. They walk around in the flesh dead spiritually until they are made alive in Christ spiritually.

 

[birdie]

Spiritually dead people aren't also alive and walking around in prison. The passage is speaking of hades as a prison where the souls of the unsaved go.


1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

The context is what Christ did while he was dead.

The context is actually the opposite. It is what Christ did once he was raised. He died in the flesh on the cross and then he was dead for 3 days and 3 nights and then he was resurrected. He was raised from the dead and gave his spirit to preach the good news. The actual context of the verse shows that the time period in question was during the days of Noah and during the present time of baptism, which are said to be the same in manner. During the days of Noah people were eating and drinking and giving in marriage and knew nothing until the flood came and took them away - except for those who received God's message and were saved. Similarly, today, people are similar in nature, except that some are bapized, meaning washed free from the stain of sin, since they hearken to the gospel message.

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: "

 

[Burn1986]

1 Peter 3:18–22 (ESV): For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Many who read the above verses are quick to conclude that Jesus went to Hell (or the place of torment) to preach to the captives there. I reject this position. I do not think the above verses teach this. Here are three reasons why:

1. The context does not support it.
The context of these verses is an encouragement from Peter to continue to do good and be faithful even in the face of false accusations and persecutions. Why would Jesus preaching to those in torment from the days of Noah provide encouragement to these Christians to endure faithfully?

2. The Spirit of Christ = The Holy Spirit.
Peter here is referring to the spirit of Christ that preached to the disobedient. In other words, Peter is referring to the preaching of Noah that was inspired by the Holy Spirit/Spirit of Christ. We see this terminology used elsewhere in this same letter from Peter:

1 Peter 1:10–11 (ESV): 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

So, Peter also refers to the “Spirit of Christ” at work in the prophets just two chapters prior. Thus, it would only make sense here that Peter is also referring to the preaching of the Spirit of Christ in Noah just prior to the flood. The ”disobedient” are now in prison due to their rejection of that preaching, not that the preaching happened while they are were in spiritual prison.

3. The Bible does not teach post-mortem repentance.
Hebrews 9:27 (ESV): And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Not only does the Bible not teach the possibility of post-mortem repentance, it teaches the opposite. Only in this life do we have the opportunity to repent and find salvation. If the dead have the opportunity to repent at the preaching of Jesus, why should we preach? And if the opportunity was only afforded to those from the days of Noah, why would God grant them this unique opportunity? And again, what would the idea of post-mortem repentance have to do with encouraging Christians to endure hardship for the sake of righteousness? Wouldn‘t the idea of the wicked getting a second chance to repent be, at best irrelevant, and at worst discouraging? Some might argue that Jesus‘ preaching to them in prison does not mean they were able to repent. Why would Jesus preach to the condemned if they had no opportunity to respond? Just to show them how wrong they were? And again, if so, why focus specifically on the disobedient in Noah’s time and not in Jeremiah or Isaiah’s time?

What is Peter teaching?
For me, the clear message here from Peter is that Christians should not shrink back from suffering for righteousness’ sake. The struggle they are facing is a temporary one. One day, they will be saved from the challenges they now face. Just as Noah was mocked and scoffed at, enduring the evils of his era righteously, he was saved by God from that evil through the flood. The wicked that persecuted Noah in his righteousness and obedience are now in prison. In the same way, baptism saves us from the evil of this world and points to our ultimate salvation from those who mock, scoff, and mistreat us. Thus, we should not be discouraged or lose heart. Just as Noah was vindicated, so also, Christians will be vindicated who remain faithful and do not lose heart.

This is talking about about the seed of victory. The point of this whole passage is that Jesus pierced defeat at the cross and sowed a seed of victory deeper than anyone could. He went through Hell and even beyond the OT demons in Hell to the very essence of existence to establish everlasting victory. Jesus showed victory by preaching the gospel to even the deepest depths and then beyond - to the deepest.

 

[Nehemiah6]

It is not talking about the unsaved being in any kind of underworld hell except in the sense that they are people who are unsaved and need saving

You are simply trying to mislead people and have no clue. Those who are on earth and remain unsaved are never said to be "in prison". They are simply "lost". So do not say things which are not true.

Do you know that the evil angels are presently in a place which is a prison? And when the Bible says that upon His resurrection, Christ "led captivity captive" it implied a release from a prison? That applied to the OT saints.

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to [Tartarus called hell in the KJB], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (2 Pet 2:4) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
(Jude 1:6) Prisoners in the past used to be chained.

 

[Chaps]

The Bible is very clear that Christ did NOT go to Gehenna, which is the Luke of Fire, and the real Hell. No one has gone into the Lake of Fire as yet.

But the word "hell" was mistakenly used for the place called Sheol in the OT and Hades in the NT. And that is exactly where Christ was for three days and three nights after His crucifixion and before His resurrection. And here is the evidence:

For thou wilt not leave my soul in [Sheol]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10 KJB)
International Standard Version
For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, you will not allow your holy one to experience corruption.
***************
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in [Hades], neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27 KJB)
Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550
ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψεις τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ᾅδου, οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν
International Standard Version
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or allow your Holy One to experience decay.

After death all souls and spirits (righteous or unrighteous) went to Hades until the resurrection of Christ. It was virtually a prison for the righteous until the resurrection of Christ. But Tartarus -- the prison for evil angels -- is in close proximity. So Christ PROCLAIMED His victory on the cross to all these souls and spirits and evil angels. Not the Gospel because that was not the purpose.

Then upon His resurrection, He took all the OT saints with Him to Heaven (the New Jerusalem). But the unrighteous and the evil angels will wait for their final judgment in the future.

While it is true, that “technically” Hell is Gehenna or the lake of fire described in Revelation that occurs after the Second Coming, we also see those in torment “in fire” in Jesus story about the rich man and Lazarus. That is why I put (or torment) in parenthesis.

I disagree with your point about “hades.” Hades is a Greek term for death, or the grave. So, this “prison” being spoken about is not death in general, but specifically the torment of the disobedient. So, considering the qualification in the title, I dont this i misrepresented the subject.

 

[Chaps]

This is talking about about the seed of victory. The point of this whole passage is that Jesus pierced defeat at the cross and sowed a seed of victory deeper than anyone could. He went through Hell and even beyond the OT demons in Hell to the very essence of existence to establish everlasting victory. Jesus showed victory by preaching the gospel to even the deepest depths and then beyond - to the deepest.

Even if this were the point Peter is making (which I dont even really understand how ”preaching” to people in Hell would be indicative of a greater “victory”), why would this matter to the topic at hand or Christians enduring persecution for righteousness sake?

 

[Burn1986]

Even if this were the point Peter is making (which I dont even really understand how ”preaching” to people in Hell would be indicative of a greater “victory”), why would this matter to the topic at hand or Christians enduring persecution for righteousness sake?

Ahh, I see what you’re saying. The spirits in prison could’ve been the ones in prison on earth in Noah’s time, and that Noah preached to them before getting on the Ark?

 

[Nehemiah6]

I disagree with your point about “hades.” Hades is a Greek term for death, or the grave.[/QUOTE]You are wrong on all three counts.

1. Hades is the abode of departed souls and spirits AFTER death. The account of the Rich Man and Lazarus confirms this. The presence of Christ in Hades further confirms this.

2. And Hades cannot be called "the grave" because a grave is a place on the surface of the earth for burial. But Christ said very specifically said that Hades is "in the heart of the earth" or "the lower parts of the earth". That would be somewhere near the core of the earth (a long way from the surface).

3. It was never a place of torment for the righteous OT saints. Only for the unrighteous and only until the final judgment. "Abraham's Bosom" implies a resting place. These saints had been justified by grace through faith, therefore there would never be any torment for them.

I trust you will accept this biblical explanation and abandon your current views. Everything in this post in supported by Scripture, and Abraham is presented to us as the key figure in justification by grace through faith (in Romans 4).

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Act 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Act 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell (hades), neither his flesh did see corruption.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.


Proof Jesus' soul was in Hades.


Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)


Hades is said to exist "downward" implying it's somewhere in the Earth, in a spiritual dimension of course, 2Pe_2:4, Luk_10:15, Eze_31:16, Isa_14:15.

Yeah I hesitate to wiegh in on this but peters pretty clear when David said

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell (hades), neither his flesh did see corruption.( decay )

He’s referring to

“Preserve me, O God: For in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: My goodness extendeth not to thee; I have set the LORD always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16:1-2, 8, 10-11‬ ‭KJV‬

 

[montana123]

Psa 63:9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

The wicked shall go in to the lower parts of the earth which is hell.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Jesus went to the lower parts of the earth which is hell.

Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Jesus went to hell but His soul was not left there.

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Jesus has the keys of hell and of death for that is the purpose of Him going to hell to conquer hell and death which he came out of hell victorious over hell and death.

And since Jesus has the keys to hell and death conquering them then all who follow Him also conquer hell and death having eternal life.

Do people not realize the whole purpose of Jesus being our Savior for He had to go to hell to conquer hell and death.

People think Jesus is sinless and would not go to hell but He did not suffer in hell for He did not deserve it but He went to conquer hell and death.

Just like the Old Testament saints that had go to the underworld until Jesus shed His blood giving them access to heaven they did not suffer but had to stay there until Jesus shed His blood then they could resurrect to be with Christ for their sins were completely washed away.

For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord whether Old Testament or New Testament saint.

Jesus going to hell does not taint Him, it does not tarnish Him, for hell has no affect on Him, but He had to go there to conquer hell and death for the sake of the saints.

The Bible plainly states that Jesus went to hell.

Oh no, not my precious Savior for He is sinless, and oh so holy, and pure, that He would never go to hell, no, not Him, no way, no how, do not say that about my precious, darling, Savior that would not even come within a trillion miles of hell for His pureness, and holiness, and goodness, and wholesomeness, and other words I cannot think of right now.

Okay you can have a Jesus that did not go to hell, but my Jesus went to hell and conquered hell and death so I could avoid it and would not have to go there, and have eternal life.

If Jesus did not go to hell then there is no salvation for anyone for are you going to conquer hell and death on your own.

And if not then you need Jesus to do it.

 

[Burn1986]

Even if this were the point Peter is making (which I dont even really understand how ”preaching” to people in Hell would be indicative of a greater “victory”), why would this matter to the topic at hand or Christians enduring persecution for righteousness sake?

I think I reacted without reading your points.

 

[Chaps]

Ahh, I see what you’re saying. The spirits in prison could’ve been the ones in prison on earth in Noah’s time, and that Noah preached to them before getting on the Ark?

Yes. I think James is saying the same Spirit of Christ that raised Jesus from the dead was at work in Noah when he preached to the disobedient in his day, who are now condemned in prison. So, the point is, as Christians we shouldnt be discouraged when we suffer for righteousness sake. We will be vindicated and the wicked will be judged for their actions, just like what happened in the days of Noah. Though the righteous suffer, God rescues us from sin through the waters of baptism just like he rescued Noah through the waters of the flood.

 

[Burn1986]

Yes. I think James is saying the same Spirit of Christ that raised Jesus from the dead was at work in Noah when he preached to the disobedient in his day, who are now condemned in prison. So, the point is, as Christians we shouldnt be discouraged when we suffer for righteousness sake. We will be vindicated and the wicked will be judged for their actions, just like what happened in the days of Noah. Though the righteous suffer, God rescues us from sin through the waters of baptism just like he rescued Noah through the waters of the flood.

I agree. Good find. Took me a little bit

 

[Blade]

1 Peter 3:18–22 (ESV): For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Many who read the above verses are quick to conclude that Jesus went to Hell (or the place of torment) to preach to the captives there. I reject this position. I do not think the above verses teach this. Here are three reasons why:

1. The context does not support it.
The context of these verses is an encouragement from Peter to continue to do good and be faithful even in the face of false accusations and persecutions. Why would Jesus preaching to those in torment from the days of Noah provide encouragement to these Christians to endure faithfully?

2. The Spirit of Christ = The Holy Spirit.
Peter here is referring to the spirit of Christ that preached to the disobedient. In other words, Peter is referring to the preaching of Noah that was inspired by the Holy Spirit/Spirit of Christ. We see this terminology used elsewhere in this same letter from Peter:

1 Peter 1:10–11 (ESV): 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

So, Peter also refers to the “Spirit of Christ” at work in the prophets just two chapters prior. Thus, it would only make sense here that Peter is also referring to the preaching of the Spirit of Christ in Noah just prior to the flood. The ”disobedient” are now in prison due to their rejection of that preaching, not that the preaching happened while they are were in spiritual prison.

3. The Bible does not teach post-mortem repentance.
Hebrews 9:27 (ESV): And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. Not only does the Bible not teach the possibility of post-mortem repentance, it teaches the opposite. Only in this life do we have the opportunity to repent and find salvation. If the dead have the opportunity to repent at the preaching of Jesus, why should we preach? And if the opportunity was only afforded to those from the days of Noah, why would God grant them this unique opportunity? And again, what would the idea of post-mortem repentance have to do with encouraging Christians to endure hardship for the sake of righteousness? Wouldn‘t the idea of the wicked getting a second chance to repent be, at best irrelevant, and at worst discouraging? Some might argue that Jesus‘ preaching to them in prison does not mean they were able to repent. Why would Jesus preach to the condemned if they had no opportunity to respond? Just to show them how wrong they were? And again, if so, why focus specifically on the disobedient in Noah’s time and not in Jeremiah or Isaiah’s time?

What is Peter teaching?
For me, the clear message here from Peter is that Christians should not shrink back from suffering for righteousness’ sake. The struggle they are facing is a temporary one. One day, they will be saved from the challenges they now face. Just as Noah was mocked and scoffed at, enduring the evils of his era righteously, he was saved by God from that evil through the flood. The wicked that persecuted Noah in his righteousness and obedience are now in prison. In the same way, baptism saves us from the evil of this world and points to our ultimate salvation from those who mock, scoff, and mistreat us. Thus, we should not be discouraged or lose heart. Just as Noah was vindicated, so also, Christians will be vindicated who remain faithful and do not lose heart.

Christ went to the "spirits in prison" and "preached" unto them. Some believe this was between His death and HIs resurrection. Some believe the "spirits in prison" were fallen angels mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6. I don't believe this because redemption is only for man and it does not say that nor even hint at that. Others do speculate that Christ preached to the wicked dead and gave them a second chance to be saved. However "preached" may mean simply that HE reported to the "saints in prison" who ever they be, HIs vicarious suffering and impending resurrection, the thought being not of appeal but of announcement. The Scripture offers no "second chance" to those who died with out Christ.

You should have if you ask me and you didn't, worded this "3 Reasons why I believe Jesus didn't go to hell". Thinking about this kind of chat or debate. It is something else no, what we just will not allow to be believed when we can't prove it. A GOD that left heaven became His own creation man not to condemn but as He said to save them.