In Christian theology, the Harrowing of Hell (in Latin: "Descensus Christi ad Inferos," the descent of Christ into hell) is the descent of Jesus into Hell (sometimes referred to as Sheol or Limbo to distinguish it from the abode of the damned) between his crucifixion and resurrection when he brought salvation to all of the righteous who had died (including Adam and Eve and other Old testament figures). The main scriptural reference is in the "First Epistle of Peter," which related that Jesus "went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits -— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.... For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:19, 4:6), although Paul's "Epistle to the Ephesians" (4:9) also said he "descended into the lower parts of the earth." In the late 4th century the "Acts of Peter and Paul" contained an official document from Pontius Pilatus, the prefect of Judaea who condemned Jesus to death, which recounted various miracles, including this one. At about the same time, the "Acta Pilati," supposedly written by Nicodemus, an associate of Jesus, included "Descensus ad Infernos" as an appendix by Leucius and Charinus who reported to the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court) that Jesus had rescued them from Hell. Early theologians such as bishop Meliton of Sardis in the 2nd century, Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Hippolytus, and Origenes also discussed the incident. In the 6th century the Christolytes belived that Jesus left his body and solu in hell and only his divinity ascended to Heaven. The Byzantine theme of "Anastasis" (resurrection) began appearing in Western art in the early 8th century. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made the event central to the doctrine of baptism of the dead, since those who choose to accept the gospel in the spirit world must still receive the saving ordinances in order to dwell in the kingdom of God. "Harrow" is from the Old English "hergian" (despoil).
In Christian theology, the Harrowing of Hell (in Latin: "Descensus Christi ad Inferos," the descent of Christ into hell) is the descent of Jesus into Hell (sometimes referred to as Sheol or Limbo to distinguish it from the abode of the damned) between his crucifixion and resurrection when he brought salvation to all of the righteous who had died (including Adam and Eve and other Old testament figures). The main scriptural reference is in the "First Epistle of Peter," which related that Jesus "went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits -— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.... For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:19, 4:6), although Paul's "Epistle to the Ephesians" (4:9) also said he "descended into the lower parts of the earth." In the late 4th century the "Acts of Peter and Paul" contained an official document from Pontius Pilatus, the prefect of Judaea who condemned Jesus to death, which recounted various miracles, including this one. At about the same time, the "Acta Pilati," supposedly written by Nicodemus, an associate of Jesus, included "Descensus ad Infernos" as an appendix by Leucius and Charinus who reported to the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court) that Jesus had rescued them from Hell. Early theologians such as bishop Meliton of Sardis in the 2nd century, Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Hippolytus, and Origenes also discussed the incident. In the 6th century the Christolytes belived that Jesus left his body and solu in hell and only his divinity ascended to Heaven. The Byzantine theme of "Anastasis" (resurrection) began appearing in Western art in the early 8th century. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made the event central to the doctrine of baptism of the dead, since those who choose to accept the gospel in the spirit world must still receive the saving ordinances in order to dwell in the kingdom of God. "Harrow" is from the Old English "hergian" (despoil).
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