medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> The question is not able to be answered so easily as referring to the
Gospel of
> Nicodemus, because the story of the Harrowing of Hell occurs in other
> literature which was most likely influenced by the Godpel of Nicodemus.
On this topic, here is a slightly edited paragraph from an as yet
unpublished paper of mine (if I may be so immodest - it saves time rewriting
it)
"Eusebius of Alexandria (floruit 5th century) wrote a number of homilies and
sermons and may have been a bishop of that city. In particular, he was the
author of a pair of sermons, intended for delivery on Maundy Thursday and
Good Friday, in which he expounds the myth of the Harrowing of Hell. Apart
from the "Gospel" of Nicodemus this is the earliest known exposition of this
myth which tells of the triumphal descent into Hell of Christ immediately
following the Crucifixion, to release the souls of the righteous from Adam
to John the Baptist, who had died before the Atonement was achieved.
Originally composed as a pair of sermons in Greek, the sermons were
amalgamated and translated into Latin sometime in the 5th or 6th century.
The unique extant manuscript, however, dates from the 10th century and was
probably copied in Orleans. The narrative is conspicuous for the lively
account of the descent into hell, and the combative dialogue between Christ
and the devil."
Source:
EUSEBIUS OF ALEXANDRIA, Patriarch. "Sermo de confusione diaboli;" edited
with introduction by Edward Kennard Rand. Modern philology. Vol 2. Oct 1904.
page 2 (262).
David, Moses, the Penitent Thief are among the characters who have roles in
this sermon.
It is very dramatic and entertaining - well worth reading for itself!
BMC
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