Hell in the New Testament
The question now becomes, did the concept of sheol change in the New Testament? Because if it did, then something is amiss.
In the New Testament, hell is found 23 times. 10 times the Greek word is hades, 12 times it is gehenna and 1 time it is tartaroo. These are discussed on separate pages. Five of the occurrences of hades are explained below. One of the occurrences is from the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus refer to the parable discussion. The remaining four occurrences are explained on the next page (refer to An End to Hades).
Hades literally means the unseen world. There is a gateway of understanding in the Bible that helps to link and align this scriptural concept. It reveals the true meaning of hell when it comes from the Greek word hades, Acts 2:27.
27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (hades), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
In Acts 2:27, hell is the Greek word hades. It is a quote from Psalm 16:10.
10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (sheol); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
In Psalm 16:10, hell is the Hebrew word sheol. The Greek writers used hades in the New Testament, because it corresponded to sheol. Hades was the closest Greek word to sheol in meaning. The writers did not use another word that might correspond to something else; thereby leading to incorrect understandings. The ten places that hades is used in the New Testament are consistent with this understanding. First in Matthew 11:23:
23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell (hades): for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Capernaum in the time of Yeshua was exalted to a place of high stature, thus the word heaven. In the future, Capernaum will be brought down to its death, thus the Greek word hades. Today when one visits Capernaum, they will find that it does not exist. There are no huge raging fires. Hades usage here is consistent with the meaning of the Hebrew word sheol.
Matthew 16:18
18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my assembly; and the gates of hell (hades) shall not prevail against it.
Just as Capernaum ceased to exist, the Lord’s assembly would never cease. There would always be a true remnant. Further, death would not prevail over the assembly of God. Believers would have life everlasting. The true remnant would not be dormant; they would be filled with the spirit.
Luke 10:15 is similar to Matthew 11:23.
15And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell (hades).
Luke 16:23 is from the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
23And in hell (hades) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus has nothing to do with our final resting place. It discusses the change that was soon to come in the religious hierarchy. The Jewish religious leader’s authority would soon cease to exist. They would not go to a burning place. They would have an unconscious position in God’s hierarchy, basically of no effect. (Refer to Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 for a compete discussion)
Acts 2:31 is a continuation of the thought in Acts 2:27, which goes back to Psalm 16:10.
31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell (hades), neither his flesh did see corruption.
Next An End to Hades
Back to Samuel, Saul & Sheol
Return to Sheol and Hell
Return to Sheol, Hell, Heaven and the Lake of Fire