RC. Sproul:

“The Apostles’ Creed is used as an integral form of worship in many Christian bodies. One of the more puzzling statements in that creed is: [Jesus] descended into hell…

“We see this problem: Jesus, when he’s on the cross in his dying agony, speaks to the thief next to him and assures him that “today you will be with me in paradise.” Now that statement from Jesus on the cross would seem to indicate that Jesus was planning to go to paradise, which is not to be confused with hell. So in some sense Jesus goes to paradise. We know that his body goes into the tomb. His soul apparently is in paradise. When does he go to hell? Or does he go to hell?

“In 1 Peter 3:19, Peter talks about “this Jesus, who by the same spirit by which he is raised from the dead goes and preaches to the lost spirits in prison.” That text has been used as the principal proof text to say that Jesus, at some point after his death, generally believed to be between his death and his resurrection, went to hell. Some people say that he went into hell to experience the fullness of the magnitude of suffering—the full penalty for human sin—in order to give complete atonement for sin. That is regarded by some as a necessary element of Christ’s passion.

But most churches that believe in an actual descent of Jesus into hell do not see him going to hell for further suffering because Jesus declares on the cross, “It is finished.” Rather, he goes to hell to liberate those spirits who, from antiquity, have been held in prison. His task in hell then is one of triumph, liberating Old Testament saints. I  [RC Sproul] personally think that the Bible is less than clear on that point because the lost spirits in prison could very well refer to lost people in this world. Peter doesn’t tell us who the lost spirits in prison are or where the prison is. People are making a lot of assumptions when they consider that this is a reference to hell and that Jesus went there between his death and his resurrection. (See: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/what-does-apostles-creed-mean-when-it-says-jesus-d )

My Comments:

1. I believe that the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus sheds much light on this question (Luke 16:19-31). Also, I think we must distinguish between Hades and Hell and Paradise and Heaven.

2. We know that because of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus in our place, the punishment which Jesus suffered, was at least as severe as that for those who will go to hell for eternity. 

3. The most devastating characteristic of hell  is the eternal separation from the presence of God. There is not even “Common Grace” in hell. Thus, I believe that Jesus went to hell for three hours “earth time” on the cross after he said “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me” until he triumphantly declared “It is Finished” and died. Because Jesus is an eternal person any time spent in hell is an eternity spent in hell. Therefore Jesus experienced an eternity in hell in our place, and on our behalf. 

4. So, where was Jesus for the three days between the crucifixion and resurrection I believe that his body was in the tomb, but that he was in paradise, with the thief on the cross.

5. The best Bible passage describing paradise is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Like 16:19-31). We see that when a Christian dies, he goes to “Paradise” and when a non-Christian dies, he goes to “Hades”. We also see from the Luke passage that you can see one side of this place where Abraham is, and another side where the rich man is; these two sides are separated by an uncrossable chasm. This place is not the eternal resting place of Christians nor of non-Christians. Some refer to the entire place as Paradise, or Hades, but I prefer to call the cool side Paradise and the hot side Hades. Only after the final judgment known as “the Great White Throne Judgment”, mentioned in Revelation 20, do Christians go to the “New Heavens and the New Earth” and non-Christians go to “the Lake of Fire” with Satan and his angels for ever.

October 4, 2023

DAVE SEIVRIGHT is a former lawyer from Jamaica. He is a graduate of the University of Liverpool, UK, and Westminster Theological Seminary, USA. He also did graduate studies at L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland, and Trinity College in England.  He has been married to PAULINE for 58 years. They have 4 children and 11 grandchildren.

Dave had the privilege of being personally mentored by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer, and also by Dr. J. I. Packer. Dave was also mentored by the teachings and writings, and by personal interaction with the late Dr. John Stott.  Dave attempts to pass on to others the things he learned from these great men of God. Combining his studies of interpretation and evidence as a lawyer with his studies of philosophy, apologetics, and theology, Dave has taken a special interest in the subject of “Worldviews” and the influence of Christianity on the culture of Western civilization. Dave has devoted his time to teaching the Christian worldview worldwide, and mentoring and discipling very intelligent young professionals, particularly in Miami, and in Germany.

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