Abstract
<jats:p>This study explores the motif of Christ’s descent into hell (Descensus Christi ad inferos) as it appears in apocryphal literature and selected early Christian writings. It aims to demonstrate the diversity of early Christian interpretations of Christ’s descent into the underworld and to elucidate its theological significance for concepts of salvation, death, and resurrection. After a brief introduction to the topic, the study examines early testimonies in the works of Melito of Sardis and Hippolytus, which provide important theological foundations for understanding the descensus. The analysis then turns to apocryphal writings, such as the Acts of Thomas and the Odes of Solomon, where the motif of the descent is developed in narrative and poetic forms. Particular attention is given to texts that interpret the descensus simul taneously as a salvific ascent (ascensus), most notably the Pistis Sophia and the Ascension of Isaiah. Subsequent chapters address the Questions of Bartholomew, the Book of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle, and the Gospel of Nicodemus, which represent some of the most influential portrayals of Christ’s descent into hell and played a significant role in shaping later Christian tradition. The final section investigates the reception of the descensus motif among major theologians and Church Fathers, including Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, as well as Syriac and Byzantine authors. The study argues that Christ’s descent into hell does not constitute a uniform theological concept in early Christian sources, but rather a complex and multifaceted motif interpreted within diverse christological and eschatological frameworks.</jats:p>