“Did Christ visit hell?” It is not a trivial question. A hasty reading of Ephesians 4:8-9 might make us think that this was the case. The text reads:
“Therefore it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captive a great number of captives, and gave gifts to men.’ This expression: ‘he Ascended’, what does it mean, except that He had also descended into the depths of the earth?
What specific place is Paul referring to when he tells the Ephesians that Jesus “had descended into the depths of the earth.” Do you mean hell? And if so, what was Jesus doing there?
To treat this text, like any other, we have to understand the context that precedes and encloses Ephesians 4:8-9.
Christ’s work on earth
Let’s look at the context of the book of Ephesians. The main theme that governs the letter is: the blessings we have in Christ Jesus through his death. In Ephesians, the apostle teaches us what Jesus Christ accomplished in his earthly ministry, which culminated in his death and resurrection.
From the beginning of the book, Paul openly talks about this topic as the main objective of the letter. He writes in Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.” Paul explains from the beginning that this letter is about the sacrifice of Christ, and the immediate results in our lives thanks to that sacrifice.
There are several things that we find in the letter that help us interpret the phrase in question.
1. The sacrifice of Christ has cosmic repercussions.
In other words, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ had effects in heaven and on earth.
The sacrifice of Christ is so magnificent and splendor that Paul used a phrase that expresses the range, breadth, and scope of Christ’s sacrifice. This phrase is crucial to understanding the meaning of “Christ went into the depths of the earth.” In Ephesians 1:9-10, Paul writes that God
“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to the good intention that He purposed in Christ, with a view to a good administration in the fullness of time, that is, to gather all things in Christ, both those that are in heaven, like the ones that are on earth” (emphasis added).
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross accomplished its goal “in heaven and on earth.” Paul uses this phrase in the letter to the Ephesians in order to emphasize the power of Christ in his death and resurrection. Paul wants us to understand that the power of Christ in his death and resurrection is beyond what we can imagine. In Ephesians 1:19-20, Paul writes:
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the power of his might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand on the heavenly places” (emphasis added).
2. In Christ, we are seated in the heavenly places.
Again, Paul lets us see that after Christ’s sacrifice on earth, Christ was seated in heaven. But not only is Christ seated in the heavenly places, but thanks to his sacrifice, we are also seated there as well. Ephesians 2:6 says, “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.”
3. Upon coming to earth, Christ announced the gospel.
Christ, upon coming to earth, announced the good news of freedom to the captives of sin.
Now, we have to pay close attention to something of great importance. In Ephesians 2:17, Paul tells us that during his time on earth, Christ “proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.”
This verse is critical for us to understand the meaning of Ephesians 4:8-9. Why? Because he makes us see that what Paul wants to teach has to do with the work of Jesus Christ in his incarnation, when he came to earth. Christ, upon coming to earth, announced the good news of freedom to the captives of sin.
captive captive
If we connect these verses, we will have a clearer idea of what Paul means in Ephesians 4:8-9. Here are several keys:
1. Christ descended to earth in his incarnation.
The passage is talking about the incarnation of Jesus Christ, about his rescue work for all of us, about his ministry on earth! Being on his throne, Christ descended into the depths, that is, to the earth. “The depths of the earth” does not refer to going under the earth, but to going into the earth itself. The NIV translates it like this: Christ “descended to the lower parts, that is, to the earth.”
Christ was humble in dying for us and descending to earth and then returning to heaven. That is precisely what Paul indicates in vs. 10: “The one who descended is also the same one who ascended much higher than all the heavens, to be able to fill everything.”
2. The captives are the redeemed.
Let us live in perpetual celebration and tireless gratitude for the death and resurrection of Christ.
Jesus came down from heaven to earth to set the “captives” free and take them to the “heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3; 2:6) along with Him. Who are the captives? The redeemed! We were held captive by sin, but Christ redeemed us, bought us, and takes us to heavenly places.
Ephesians 4:8-9, then, reminds us of the sacrifice of Christ so that as believers we can imitate him. Paul closes the chapter by writing in verse 32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.” Christ’s example of “descending to rescue and then ascending” should motivate us to imitate his person…to be Christians.
This is not a simple passage. But one thing is certain: it points us to the work of Christ. Therefore, let us live in perpetual celebration and tireless gratitude for the death and resurrection of Christ. He has won! He descended. He died. He rose. He rescued us. He will return. Now let us be like Him, and imitate his walk.
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