[Biblemat] Did Jesus preach in hades? (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Hello Sally,

Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions.
Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org  Please check out Bible
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You asked:

Where in scripture can I find where Jesus when down to sheol and preached to
the dead?

Reply:

When Jesus died (spirit left his body, Jas. 2: 24-26), he went to hades
(Acts 2: 31).  This was during the three day period prophesied.  However,
there is no teaching as to what he "did" during the three days.  I Peter 3:
18-20 is adduced to show what he did, but I do not believe these scriptures
pertain to the three day period.  Consider the below:

Jesus did not himself preach to the "spirits in prison" but did so "by the
Spirit" (vs. 18, 19).  These spirits or people were disobedient during the
days of Noah (vs. 20).  I believe, therefore, that Jesus preached to them by
the Spirit and through Noah, during the time of Noah.  Since or at the
writing of I Peter, these antediluvians were dead and in "prison" (hades).
Out of all the views, I believe this one is the most plausible.

I recommend you read, "Jesus - the Perfect Preacher" found in Bible
Truths (excerpt below).  To read  the material in full, click on
http://www.bibletruths.net and enter through  the door.  When on the
Site Map page, click on "Archives and Index,"  and then click on the
letter "J" on the Archives page.  Here is the excerpt:

     "...When many think of Jesus, they do not consider him as being
a preacher. However, Jesus was a preacher. "The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me," Jesus said of himself, "because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor." (Lk. 4: 18). Notice that Jesus preached
the gospel. In view of Jesus being a preacher, the question is, what
kind of preacher was Jesus?

     Jesus was an original preacher. Jesus spake as none other, we are told
(Jn. 7: 46). Jesus did not teach as the scribes of his day, engaging in the
painstaking presentation of tautological tradition (Matt. 7: 29). It is also
evident that Jesus was not simply a people pleasing preacher. Jesus spoke
the truth even at the risk of repelling others, even his own disciples (Jn.
6: 60). Jesus was original in two principle ways: Jesus was not bound by the
Jew's traditional notions and preoccupations that characterized their
teachings, and he presented and revealed truths of God as only the Son of
God could (cp. 2 Tim. 1: 10)....."

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference (web
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Cordially,
Don Martin