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**MedicineForUs** · 10-19-2011, 08:01 AM

My friends response was in a conversation where I said that Christ went to Sheol and preached to the captives and then led them to Paridise.
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Unless I'm way off base, these things were discussed by Church Fathers somewhere. I just figured there would be a book somewhere - hopefully in English - that I could point to without depending on my opinion. Cause we know where our opinions come from, don't we. (page 106 of the "Ladder")

You might want to read a book called The Gospel of Nicodemus especially chapters 13-21. It is one of the non-canonical accounts that claim to be from apostolic times. These chapters are the account of Charinus and Lenthius, the sons of the High Priest Simeon (who received Christ when he was presented in the temple on the 40th day of his birth and who gives us the hymn "Lord lettest now thy servant depart in peace...") These two had died and were buried, but after the Resurrection were found to be alive (and many in the graves arose and were seen...) They related then to Nicodemus and others what they witnessed when Jesus descended into Hades. You could consider this a "primary" source since it is indeed ancient, perhaps the first account its type and it purports to be an eyewitness account.

Another book which is much more academic and out of print which deals with the doctrine of the atonement is called Christus Victor by Gustav Aulen. This particular book details the three theories of the atonement - the Latin, Anselmian doctrine which is the "juridical" or "legal" theory which emphasizes God's change in regard to man that the western Church has embraced. There is then also the "subjective" approach which describes the atonement as man rediscovering God which mirrors the humanistic ideals of modern time. Thre is the third theory that Aulen describes as "neglected" which is the "classical approach" - a somewhat dramatic account of Christ's descent into Hades, his conquest of sin death and the devil, his binding of Satan and freeing the captives (the souls of the departed) who then are able to follow Him into paradise. This "classical approach" is pretty heavily drawn from and reflects the teaching of the Orthodox Church.

Fr David

10-19-2011, 08:01 AM	#6
MedicineForUs Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 389 Senior Member	My friends response was in a conversation where I said that Christ went to Sheol and preached to the captives and then led them to Paridise. ... Unless I'm way off base, these things were discussed by Church Fathers somewhere. I just figured there would be a book somewhere - hopefully in English - that I could point to without depending on my opinion. Cause we know where our opinions come from, don't we. (page 106 of the "Ladder") You might want to read a book called The Gospel of Nicodemus especially chapters 13-21. It is one of the non-canonical accounts that claim to be from apostolic times. These chapters are the account of Charinus and Lenthius, the sons of the High Priest Simeon (who received Christ when he was presented in the temple on the 40th day of his birth and who gives us the hymn "Lord lettest now thy servant depart in peace...") These two had died and were buried, but after the Resurrection were found to be alive (and many in the graves arose and were seen...) They related then to Nicodemus and others what they witnessed when Jesus descended into Hades. You could consider this a "primary" source since it is indeed ancient, perhaps the first account its type and it purports to be an eyewitness account. Another book which is much more academic and out of print which deals with the doctrine of the atonement is called Christus Victor by Gustav Aulen. This particular book details the three theories of the atonement - the Latin, Anselmian doctrine which is the "juridical" or "legal" theory which emphasizes God's change in regard to man that the western Church has embraced. There is then also the "subjective" approach which describes the atonement as man rediscovering God which mirrors the humanistic ideals of modern time. Thre is the third theory that Aulen describes as "neglected" which is the "classical approach" - a somewhat dramatic account of Christ's descent into Hades, his conquest of sin death and the devil, his binding of Satan and freeing the captives (the souls of the departed) who then are able to follow Him into paradise. This "classical approach" is pretty heavily drawn from and reflects the teaching of the Orthodox Church. Fr David
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