The Gospel of Nicodemus, also known as the Acts of Pilate, is a text from the New Testament apocrypha. The text purports to be a written record of a conversation between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, as well as other events that occurred during the time of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.
One of the key themes in the text is the “Harrowing of Hell,” which refers to the belief that Jesus descended into Hell between the time of his death and his resurrection, in order to proclaim victory over Satan and release the souls of the righteous who had died before his own death. This belief is not found in the New Testament canon, but it was a popular one in early Christianity. The Harrowing of Hell is often depicted in Christian art, literature, and theology.
One example from the Gospel of Nicodemus that describes the Harrowing of Hell can be found in the “Descensus Christi ad Inferos” (The Descent of Christ into Hell) section of the text. In this section, it is written:
“And when He had descended into hell, He preached to the souls that were there, and said: ‘The Father hath sent me, and I am come; and I shall ascend again to Him that sent me. And he that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’
And when they heard it, they all cried out: ‘We have heard from the law and the prophets that the Christ should come; and when He cometh, He shall proclaim liberty to them that are in captivity, and sight to them that are blind.’
And when He had thus spoken, the whole multitude of the spirits of the dead, who had been there for a long time, cried out with one voice: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord! We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be remembered in Thy kingdom!'”
This passage describes Jesus descending into Hell and preaching to the souls of the dead, offering them the opportunity to be remembered in God’s kingdom and be saved. It illustrates the belief in the Harrowing of Hell as an event that happened after the death of Jesus and before His resurrection, during which Jesus rescued the souls of the righteous from the realm of the dead.
Several other texts from the early Christian era describe the belief in Jesus’ descent into Hell, also known as the “Harrowing of Hell.” Some examples include:
- The Apostles’ Creed, an early Christian statement of faith, includes the phrase “He descended into Hell” in its description of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- The Apocryphal Gospel of Peter, a non-canonical text, describes Jesus’ descent into the underworld and his triumph over Satan.
- The Epistle of the Apostles, another non-canonical text, contains a description of Jesus’ descent into Hell and his preaching to the souls of the dead.
- The Gospel of Peter, another apocryphal text, also includes the theme of the Harrowing of Hell.
It’s important to note that the belief in Jesus’ descent into Hell is not found in the New Testament canon and it is not considered as a doctrine by all Christians, but it has been considered as a popular belief in early Christianity.
The Gospel of Peter is a non-canonical text that purports to be a written account of the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It is considered to be an early Christian work, dating from around the 2nd century AD.
The text is significant because it is one of the earliest surviving non-canonical gospels, and it contains some unique elements not found in the canonical gospels. For example, it describes the Harrowing of Hell, in which Jesus descends into the underworld and releases the souls of the righteous who had died before his own death. It also describes the discovery of the empty tomb, including the account of a talking cross that appears to the Roman guards, who then flee in terror.
The text is also notable for its Christology, which emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus, and describes him as a pre-existent, powerful figure who performs miracles and is raised from the dead in a glorified body.
