Question:  Dear Greg,

            When Jesus died, where did he go for the 3 days?  Did he go to hell or Hades or to the belly of the earth?

            Chris

Answer:  Dear Chris,

            Three Greek words are translated into hell in English Bibles—hades, tartarus, and gehenna.  Hades can mean the grave or pit, but also a dwelling place for departed spirits.  In English the word hell generally has meaning only as a place of suffering for departed souls.  Jesus, of course, had no sin and would not have gone to such a place if indeed such a place existed, so he would have gone into the grave or tomb.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht