Featured Did Jesus Go to Hell after He Died?

"wherefore, he saith, 'Having gone up on high he led captive captivity, and gave gifts to men,' -- and that, he went up, what is it except that he also went down first to the lower parts of the earth?" (Ephesians 4:8-9, Young's Literal Translation)

Bible scholars tend to say that "When he ascended up on high" refers to Jesus' ascension into Heaven after His resurrection, and they sometimes say that "the lower parts of the earth" refers to Hades. For example, that expression is used in Psalms 63:9-10 (in various translations), which describes David's enemies being killed and going down to Hades.

So Ephesians 4:8-9 (above) fits with what we know about Jesus, that He went down to Paradise in Hades after His death, and that He ascended into Heaven after His resurrection. But who was in captivity that He led captive when He ascended into Heaven?

 

The prophet Isaiah said that Sheol is below and down:
"The grave [Sheol] below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you-- all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones-- all those who were kings over the nations. They will all respond, they will say to you, "You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us." All your pomp has been brought down to the grave [Sheol], along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you." (Isaiah 14:9-11)

According to Barnes:
"The word [Sheol] denotes, says Taylor ("Heb. Con."), 'The underground parts of the earth, otherwise called the nether, or lower parts of the earth; the earth beneath in opposition to the earth above, where people and other animals live. In "sheol" are the foundations of the mountains Deu_32:22. In "sheol "men penetrate by digging into the earth Amo_9:2. Into "sheol" the roots of trees do strike down Eze_31:16. ... "Sheol" was always represented as being "in" or "under" the ground, and the grave was the avenue or door that led to it" (Barnes, from http://www.e-sword.net/commentaries.html , Isaiah 14:9, emphasis added)

Gill says that this passage refers to:
"those that are under the earth, in the grave, or in hell" (Gill's Exposition of the Bible, from http://www.e-sword.net/commentaries.html , Isaiah 14:9)

I have several more verses and comentaries that show where sheol and hades were located...

Based on all of the evidence throughout the Old Testament, Sheol was considered to be a place of departed spirits which was located under the earth.

In the New Testament we see exactly the same idea...

 

Yes! This is the study we did in our church! It has helped me a lot to understand this! So now everyone can just read this! I did not know his teaching were on line! We had hand outs and I copied them on to my computer!

 

We had hand outs! I did not know he was still on line!

 

How do I cite it from my documents in my computer?

 

His teachings are not copy write! His teachings are on my computer from scanning them from handouts from church!

On the bottom of the hand out is says..."This material is not copyrighted. Please feel free to use it in any way which will glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!"