Descent into Hades
Before he rose, Christ went down to the dead to set the captives free
This teaching holds that between his death and resurrection, Christ descended to the realm of the dead. The Apostles' Creed confesses it, and early tradition, including the Gospel of Nicodemus, pictures him liberating the righteous who had died before him. While the descent is widely held, traditions interpret its nature and purpose, sometimes called the 'Harrowing of Hell,' in differing ways.
How it traveled
- EphesiansRome · 67explains
- ActsRome · 84explains
- The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. Second Version.— · 220explains
- The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version.— · 220explains
- The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--The Descent of Christ into Hell: Greek Form.— · 220explains
- Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene HymnsEdessa · 373explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Apostles' CreedAquileia · 411explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
Key passages(20)
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. Second Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--The Descent of Christ into Hell: Greek Form. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--The Descent of Christ into Hell: Greek Form. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed · Rufinus of Aquileia
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
The Church History of Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament
The Gospel of Nicodemus; Part II.--Christ's Descent into Hell: Latin. First Version. · Apocrypha of the New Testament