medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
You've received some great answers. The doctrine of
Christ's descent into hell is pretty old, as old as
the second century Gospel of Nicodemus which leaves
little doubt as to where hell is. In conception
though, if you take the Hebrew Bible's references to
"Sheol" being down, plus the conception of Hades being
down in classical literature, (see esp. the Persephone
myth, the Aeneid, Hercules and Orpheus' descents to
Hades), Christian hell can only be down. Anyway, if
you are searching for a NT defense of the part of the
creed re: "He descended into hell" you won't find one,
but Christian holy history can not really do with out
it. Even the GON presents the descent into hell as if
it were not a new doctrine, so it probably predates
the early second century, and once GON comes around,
well that document is influential from its inception
all the way up through the Reformation.
Sorry for the meanderings.
Larry Swain
--- Marjorie Greene <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval
> religion and culture
>
> Doctissimi,
> I forward a question in hopes that you will provide
> answers, which, if forthcoming, will be forwarded to
> the Curious One.
> Thanks in advance,
> MG
>
> >>The question is "What are the
> > > authoritative sources by which
> > > one might gage the theological meaning of the
> > > 'descent into hell' in the Middle
> > > Ages?"
> > > It's a
> > > matter of debate, I believe, just how orthodox
> or
> > > loosely the interpretation
> > > held? It evidentally was Hell itself, not
> > purgatory
> > > or limbo intended in this...
>
> > >
> >
> >
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