The Bible does not provide a detailed account of Jesus’ activities in “hell” following His crucification in the way that some might expect. The concept of Jesus descending to hell is often associated with interpretations of certain biblical passages and creeds, like the Apostles’ Creed, which states that He “descended into hell.”

One of the key verses related to this topic is found in 1 Peter 3:18-20, which says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” This passage is interpreted by some to mean that Jesus proclaimed His victory over sin and death to the spirits in prison, which could be understood to mean hell or a similar state.

Ephesians 4:8-10 is another passage that is often cited in this context: “This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.’ (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)” This speaks to the belief in Jesus’ descent as part of His work to reconcile all things to Himself, demonstrating His authority over all realms, including death.

It is important to approach these passages with an understanding that the term “hell” in English does not always correspond directly to terms used in the original languages of the Bible, and various Christian traditions interpret these texts in slightly different ways. The main emphasis in Christian teaching is on Jesus’ death and resurrection as the means by which He conquered sin and death, offering salvation to all who believe in Him.