Where was Jesus for Three Days?

[Northwest Savant]

Before I was married, I went to an Episcopal Church (since childhood). We recited the Apostles' Creed which has a line.... "He descended into hell" after being crucified and buried. My wife (while still dating) accompanied me to my church, but would not recite the Creed because she didn't believe Jesus went to hell. After we were married, we attended a non-denominational church, and also since then, I understand that the Episcopal Church has changed the line to be read....."he descended to the dead". Our non-denominational church never recites the Apostles' Creed.
In Luke 23:43, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” But according to the Apostles' Creed, Jesus does not ascend into heaven until after he arises on the third day.
By using deductive reasoning, this could mean that "paradise" is not in heaven, and that it is where the dead might be waiting perhaps for Jesus' second coming. Additionally, if relying upon the older version of the Creed, do any Churches believe that "paradise" is in hell? Where was Jesus for the three days he was dead and awaiting the time he would arise?

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[WilliamBo]

Yes, Jesus went down to hell [sheol] for 3 days, to receive the eternal/spiritual punishment for OUR sin. The punishment in hell is far, far worse than any punishment we might receive on earth.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Where was Jesus for three days? His body laid in a tomb, just as our bodies will when you and I die. Our spirits do not. That is why He could say to the criminal crucified at His side, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

[dysert]

I take it from Luke 16:22-26 that before the Resurrection there were two distinct areas for the physically dead: Paradise and (what I'll call Hell to keep it simple). Note again, this is before the Resurrection. Acts 2:31 also alludes to Jesus visit to the "underworld" during His three days to witness to the souls "in prison" (see 1 Pet. 3:18-19).

Imo, after the Resurrection, the Paradise part of the underworld was relocated to heaven, so now when a Christian dies they immediately go to heaven.

I hope this answers your questions.

 

[Northwest Savant]

Yes, Jesus went down to hell [sheol] for 3 days, to receive the eternal/spiritual punishment for OUR sin. The punishment in hell is far, far worse than any punishment we might receive on earth.

So then, do you believe that paradise as Jesus spoke of in Luke 23:43 is in hell [sheol], since He stated that today they would be in paradise?

 

[WilliamBo]

So then, do you believe that paradise as Jesus spoke of in Luke 23:43 is in hell [sheol], since He stated that today they would be in paradise?

That's an interesting point, I never thought of that, Jesus did indeed say that. No, paradise is NOT in hell. I'd have to look at the original greek translation of both scriptures to draw my own conclusion. I know the Bible says a day to the Lord is a thousand years, maybe that has something to do with it. We don't know EXACTLY what happened to Jesus right after he died, but it DOES say he descended into sheol

 

[Northwest Savant]

I take it from Luke 16:22-26 that before the Resurrection there were two distinct areas for the physically dead: Paradise and (what I'll call Hell to keep it simple). Note again, this is before the Resurrection. Acts 2:31 also alludes to Jesus visit to the "underworld" during His three days to witness to the souls "in prison" (see 1 Pet. 3:18-19).

Imo, after the Resurrection, the Paradise part of the underworld was relocated to heaven, so now when a Christian dies they immediately go to heaven.

I hope this answers your questions.

Luke 16:22-30 also states that the rich man lifted his eyes, perhaps looking heavenward to paradise. I have not read that paradise was a part of the "underworld" and therefore could be considered "descended". Where can I read more about that belief?

 

[dysert]

That's an interesting point, I never thought of that, Jesus did indeed say that. No, paradise is NOT in hell. I'd have to look at the original greek translation of both scriptures to draw my own conclusion. I know the Bible says a day to the Lord is a thousand years, maybe that has something to do with it. We don't know EXACTLY what happened to Jesus right after he died, but it DOES say he descended into sheol

Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) mean the same thing, and that is the "underworld", i.e., place of the dead. Technically, neither has a connotation of good or bad - just that it's a place of the dead. The story in Luke 16 of the rich man and Lazarus tells us that this underworld was split into two compartments before the Resurrection - a good compartment and a bad compartment. The good compartment was called Paradise and was relocated to heaven after the Resurrection.

 

[Northwest Savant]

Sheol (Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) mean the same thing, and that is the "underworld", i.e., place of the dead. Technically, neither has a connotation of good or bad - just that it's a place of the dead. The story in Luke 16 of the rich man and Lazarus tells us that this underworld was split into two compartments before the Resurrection - a good compartment and a bad compartment. The good compartment was called Paradise and was relocated to heaven after the Resurrection.

What an excellent reply!
So, then would it be scriptural to state that Jesus descended into Sheol/Hades to the paradise compartment? If so, then did Jesus preach or proclaim to the spirits in prison during that time as stated in 1 Peter 3:19 by speaking across the great chasm?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

So then, do you believe that paradise as Jesus spoke of in Luke 23:43 is in hell [sheol], since He stated that today they would be in paradise?

So far, there is much more wrong (and obviously at odds with each other) than right, false than true, all around us.

Seek on other sites, YHWH willing, the simple truth of YHWH'S Word, and be amazed how true and wonderful and right YHWH is, while men scurry about manufacturing and promoting many false devices, complicated and deceptive.

 

[dysert]

What an excellent reply!
So, then would it be scriptural to state that Jesus descended into Sheol/Hades to the paradise compartment? If so, then did Jesus preach or proclaim to the spirits in prison during that time as stated in 1 Peter 3:19 by speaking across the great chasm?

Thanks. I don't recall Scripture saying Jesus *only* stayed in Paradise, so my opinion is that He went over to the "bad" side of hades and proclaimed victory there, as 1 Pet. 3:19 says.

 

[ShawnV78]

I think as pointed out before, God's time isn't the same as our time. A lot of people have trouble with the creation in Genesis. We tend to think that a day to God is the same as our day here on earth. I also know a lot of people who have a hard time thinking Jesus would spend time in purgatory or hell. But we're talking about the son of God, the creator of all and ruler over everything. So why couldn't he step into a place of the dead? I think Jesus' descent only show's that we're never out of the reach of God. I also tend to side with those who feel during this time Jesus preached to those imprisoned spirits. This is what 1 Peter 3:19-20 says in regards to this. Also in Ephesians 4:7-10, when Jesus ascends he takes with him many captives.


Ephesians 4:7-10 (NIV)

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

No part of Scripture contradicts any other part of Scripture.
EPHESIANS 4:9
PHILLIPS
(Note the implication here—to say that Christ “ascended” means that he must previously have “descended”, that is from the height of Heaven to the depth of this world. The one who made this descent is identically the same person as he who has now ascended high above the very Heavens—that the whole universe from lowest to highest might know his presence.)

CJB
Now this phrase, “he went up,” what can it mean if not that he first went down into the lower parts, that is, the earth?

VOICE
(Well, when it says “He ascended,” then that must mean that He had descended earlier to the lower levels, that is, to the earth.

 

[dysert]

No part of Scripture contradicts any other part of Scripture.

I totally agree!

 

[mark kennedy]

Before I was married, I went to an Episcopal Church (since childhood). We recited the Apostles' Creed which has a line.... "He descended into hell" after being crucified and buried. My wife (while still dating) accompanied me to my church, but would not recite the Creed because she didn't believe Jesus went to hell. After we were married, we attended a non-denominational church, and also since then, I understand that the Episcopal Church has changed the line to be read....."he descended to the dead". Our non-denominational church never recites the Apostles' Creed.
In Luke 23:43, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” But according to the Apostles' Creed, Jesus does not ascend into heaven until after he arises on the third day.
By using deductive reasoning, this could mean that "paradise" is not in heaven, and that it is where the dead might be waiting perhaps for Jesus' second coming. Additionally, if relying upon the older version of the Creed, do any Churches believe that "paradise" is in hell? Where was Jesus for the three days he was dead and awaiting the time he would arise?

Only the children of perdition actually go into the place called hell in the New Testament. Sheol was literally, synonymous with the grave and death. The Old Testament has a far less developed concept of the after life then the New Testament. He was held physically by death and the grave but the last thing Jesus did before he died was commend his spirit to the Father. His spirit went to the same heaven everyone else's does, if they are not a child of perdition.

 

[Northwest Savant]

Only the children of perdition actually go into the place called hell in the New Testament. Sheol was literally, synonymous with the grave and death. The Old Testament has a far less developed concept of the after life then the New Testament. He was held physically by death and the grave but the last thing Jesus did before he died was commend his spirit to the Father. His spirit went to the same heaven everyone else's does, if they are not a child of perdition.

Jesus did commend his spirit to the Father. However, according to scripture, His spirit either waited 3 days before going to heaven or went back and forth during the three days between the dead. It is my opinion, though that Matthew 12:40 means exactly what it says:
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
I don't think that means that Jesus went to heaven right away, and do not think that righteous Jews went to heaven before Christ.

 

[mark kennedy]

Jesus did commend his spirit to the Father. However, according to scripture, His spirit either waited 3 days before going to heaven or went back and forth during the three days between the dead. It is my opinion, though that Matthew 12:40 means exactly what it says:
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
I don't think that means that Jesus went to heaven right away, and do not think that righteous Jews went to heaven before Christ.

He tells the thief on the cross, 'this day you will be with me in paradise', that doesn't suggest a three day layover. Son of man is a reference to his humanity and truly, his body did lay in the grave for three days. The Scriptures testify to Christ preaching to those in hell but that was across a gulf like the rich man and Lazarus. On the third day the glory of God entered the tomb and his body was raised and he returned to his earthly frame. There is no indication the Son of God was in hell, the proposition is absurd.

 

[Northwest Savant]

He tells the thief on the cross, 'this day you will be with me in paradise', that doesn't suggest a three day layover. Son of man is a reference to his humanity and truly, his body did lay in the grave for three days. The Scriptures testify to Christ preaching to those in hell but that was across a gulf like the rich man and Lazarus. On the third day the glory of God entered the tomb and his body was raised and he returned to his earthly frame. There is no indication the Son of God was in hell, the proposition is absurd.

I don't think scripture indicates that "paradise" is heaven. Otherwise, before Christ became our Savior, righteous Jews would have been in heaven, rather than "paradise" or Abraham's Bosom.

 

[Northwest Savant]

He tells the thief on the cross, 'this day you will be with me in paradise', that doesn't suggest a three day layover. Son of man is a reference to his humanity and truly, his body did lay in the grave for three days. The Scriptures testify to Christ preaching to those in hell but that was across a gulf like the rich man and Lazarus. On the third day the glory of God entered the tomb and his body was raised and he returned to his earthly frame. There is no indication the Son of God was in hell, the proposition is absurd.

By the way, I noticed that under your membership info, you have stated that you are a Calvinist. Were you aware that Calvin believed that Jesus descended into hell?