Jesus Café Ministries - Scripture Squad - Did Jesus descend into hell before He went to heaven?

From: Debbie
I need scriptural help, someone says that Jesus descended into Hell before he went to heaven is there anywhere in the Bible that says Jesus went to Hell at anytime?

Hi Debbie!
We believe you are referring to 1 Peter 3:18-20 which says:

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely through the water."

Some people believe this means that Jesus went into Hades and offered to those who lived before Noah a second chance for salvation. He supposedly did this between His death and resurrection. However, this doctrine has no scriptural support.

Others say it was an announcement of His victory over sin to those in Hades, without offering any second chances.

It may be more likely that this is the preincarnate Christ preaching through Noah to those who, because they rejected that message, are now spirits in prison.

If one looks at the context of the whole chapter, we see Peter is trying to get across to the reader that water did not save the folks in Noah's day who rejected Noah's message, just as today baptism does not save. Clearly, this passage is not about Christ preaching to the dead, which would contradict many other passages in Scriptures. Only the living have the opportunity for salvation and our merciful God provides many opportunities just as in the days of Noah. Then, now, and forevermore, it is faith that saves.

- The Scripture Squad :
TCCaleb, TCCaff, RuthCCC & DawnCCC