Bible Verses About Christ Descending Into Hades

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Direct text about preaching to spirits in prison

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Direct text about the gospel preached to the dead

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Paul's language of descending to the lower parts of the earth

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Main Bible verse on Christ not being left in Hades

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm citation used for the descent teaching

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Direct text about the heart of the earth

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

Paired with descent and resurrection language

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Base verse on being put to death in the flesh and quickened by the Spirit

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Background verse on Noah and the days of disobedience, often paired with 1 Peter 3:19

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Psalm language of being brought up from Sheol.

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Used with the resurrection and suffering sequence

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.