Jesus's Decension into Hell

[komeeks18]

I was raised Protestant, so I was never taught that Jesus went to Hell after He was crucified. I’ve been praying the Rosary lately, and I want to learn more about this before I continue praying the rosary, until I understand what it really is (and means). Can someone explain His descension into Hell (scriptural reference, interpretation, etc.)? Thank you! God bless! :getholy:

 

[marty1818]

Here you go:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a5p1.htm

 

[po18guy]

The only thing to note is that He descended to the abode of the dead, which is called sheol, or hell - but it not the hell of the damned. He went there to preach the Gospel to the spirits in prison.

 

[thomas_jd]

I was raised Protestant, so I was never taught that Jesus went to Hell after He was crucified. I’ve been praying the Rosary lately, and I want to learn more about this before I continue praying the rosary, until I understand what it really is (and means). Can someone explain His descension into Hell (scriptural reference, interpretation, etc.)? Thank you! God bless! :getholy:

From the fall of Adam until Jesus death on the cross, the gates of Heaven were Closed!
Those souls that left the earth were assigned to a place without God ( hell). Hell is the absence of God.
His descent into hell opened the door to Heaven, his death on the cross made this possible. The worthy joined God in heaven.

There is another definition of hell. The place of the damned. The eternal loss of God, not a temporary one.
Hope this was helpful.

 

[komeeks18]

Thank you for your replies! I definitely appreciate the link (I read the page) & your replies! So basically the Hell Jesus descended to after he was crucified was a temporary Hell for the people who had come before Him, and there he preached the Gospel, and after that Heaven was opened for the believers of Christ?

 

[Vico]

Icon of the Resurrection, showing Our Lord helping Adam and Eve out of Hades.

 

[PacoG]

The only thing to note is that He descended to the abode of the dead, which is called sheol, or hell - but it not the hell of the damned. He went there to preach the Gospel to the spirits in prison.

Sheol or Hell is also the Bossum of Abraham that Our Lord references in the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.

 

[PazzoGrande]

Thank you for your replies! I definitely appreciate the link (I read the page) & your replies! So basically the Hell Jesus descended to after he was crucified was a temporary Hell for the people who had come before Him, and there he preached the Gospel, and after that Heaven was opened for the believers of Christ?

Yeah though “temporary hell” isn’t the best term for it, unfortunately, because it doesn’t involve punishment or flame.

Anyway nowadays you’ll find it translated as “He descended to the dead.” Works out better that way though it’s still one of those theologically nuanced things.

Welcome to the Church!

 

[ConstantineTG]

The only thing to note is that He descended to the abode of the dead, which is called sheol, or hell - but it not the hell of the damned. He went there to preach the Gospel to the spirits in prison.

To the Greeks, the abode of the dead and hell are the same thing. Death is a result of sin, therefore to be in the abode of the dead is to be in the hell of the damned.

 

[CatholicLife]

A nice poem about this event .

LIMBO by Sister Mary Ada

The ancient greyness shifted
Suddenly and thinned
Like mist upon the moors
Before a wind.
An old, old prophet lifted
A shining face and said :
“He will be coming soon.
The Son of God is dead;
He died this afternoon.”

A murmurous excitement stirred
All souls.
They wondered if they dreamed —
Save one old man who seemed
Not even to have heard.

And Moses standing,
Hushed them all to ask
If any had a welcome song prepared.
If not, would David take the task?
And if they cared
Could not the three young children sing
The Benedicite, the canticle of praise
They made when God kept them from perishing
In the fiery blaze?

A breath of spring surprised them,
Stilling Moses’ words.
No one could speak, remembering
The first fresh flowers,
The little singing birds.
Still others thought of fields new ploughed
Or apple trees
All blossom - boughed.
Or some, the way a dried bed fills
With water
Laughing down green hills.
The fisherfolk dreamed of the foam
On bright blue seas.
The one old man who had not stirred
Remembered home.

And there He was
Splendid as the morning sun and fair
As only God is fair.
And they, confused with joy,
Knelt to adore
Seeing that he wore
Five crimson stars
He never had before.

No canticle at all was sung.
None toned a psalm, or raised a greeting song.
A silent man alone
Of all that throng
Found tongue ----
Not any other.
Close to His heart
When the embrace was done,
Old Joseph said,
“How is Your Mother,
How is Your Mother, Son?”

(‘The Mary Book’ an anthology by F.J.Sheed. Published by Sheedand Ward 1950.)

 

[po18guy]

To the Greeks, the abode of the dead and hell are the same thing. Death is a result of sin, therefore to be in the abode of the dead is to be in the hell of the damned.

Naturally, here we would use it according to the intent of the gospel writer.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Naturally, here we would use it according to the intent of the gospel writer.

I would suggest reading the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom.

 

[SeekNFind]

The only thing to note is that He descended to the abode of the dead, which is called sheol, or hell - but it not the hell of the damned. He went there to preach the Gospel to the spirits in prison.

This moves me so much: the image of Jesus preaching to the dead. Wow.

So, were people like David, Moses, Elijah, etc in this “hell” or sheol even though they were so close to the heart of God? Was this place a kind of Pergatory?

 

[LilyM]

This moves me so much: the image of Jesus preaching to the dead. Wow.

So, were people like David, Moses, Elijah, etc in this “hell” or sheol even though they were so close to the heart of God? Was this place a kind of Pergatory?

Yes - Christ had not yet died to open Heaven to any of us, and His death was necessary to do so. So even those closest to God who died prior to Him were indeed in sheol.

I wouldn’t say ‘purgatory’ was the right term for it - purgatory is where the righteous make atonement for their minor sins and are purged of all imperfections and so made perfect and fit to enter heaven.

It would be more of a state of limbo - neither heaven nor hell of the damned. Not a terrible place, but not the joyous state of being that is Heaven either.

 

[SeekNFind]

Yes - Christ had not yet died to open Heaven to any of us, and His death was necessary to do so. So even those closest to God who died prior to Him were indeed in sheol.

I wouldn’t say ‘purgatory’ was the right term for it - purgatory is where the righteous make atonement for their minor sins and are purged of all imperfections and so made perfect and fit to enter heaven.

It would be more of a state of limbo - neither heaven nor hell of the damned. Not a terrible place, but not the joyous state of being that is Heaven either.

Thanks for that clarification. When I hear about limbo that reminds me of that movie called The Others where to mother makes her children recite the names of the 4 Hells.

 

[po18guy]

Yes - Christ had not yet died to open Heaven to any of us, and His death was necessary to do so. So even those closest to God who died prior to Him were indeed in sheol.

I wouldn’t say ‘purgatory’ was the right term for it - purgatory is where the righteous make atonement for their minor sins and are purged of all imperfections and so made perfect and fit to enter heaven.

It would be more of a state of limbo - neither heaven nor hell of the damned. Not a terrible place, but not the joyous state of being that is Heaven either.

We know from the first letter of Saint Peter (1 Peter 3:19-20, 1 Peter 4:5-6) that our Lord descended to the dead and preached the Gospel to them. Those included all of the righteous who were awaiting entrance into God’s Kingdom since the days of old. He was there with the repentant criminal from the cross (Dismas). As well, Saint Paul wrote of Christ as the only one who had ascended was Him who also descended to the lower portions of the world - sheol (Ephesians 4:9-10).