A CRITICAL APPRECIATION ON THE GOSPEL OF

NICODEMUS (CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL)

-Bro.M. Vivin Rodrhic OCD

Second Year B. Th.

INTRODUCTION

The Armenian translation of the “Gospel of Nicodemus” was one of the most
common apocryphal writings in medieval Armenia. The gospel is not attributed
to Nicodemus in writings of ancient Christian authors: the designation of this
apocryphon as “Gospel of Nicodemus” has a more recent origin (13th c.). In
Armenian manuscripts (especially in later editions of the text) the authorship of
the apocryphon is attributed to James, the Lord's brother. The “Gospel” consists
of two thematically unrelated parts. The first part is commonly known as the
“Acts of Pilate” and is devoted to the interrogation of Jesus, his trial and the
“Epistle of Pilate to Emperor Tiberius”. The second part of the apocryphon
describes the descent of Christ into Hell (Descensus ad Infernos). It should be
noted that the “Descent into Hell” is to be found only in Latin and Western
translations of the apocryphon. In ancient oriental manuscripts (including
Armenian ones) and in most of Greek texts it has not been found yet. However,
the fact that some fragments of this part are used in “On Burial of the Lord”
(this composition is attributed to the fifth century Armenian historian Yeghishe)
gives grounds to assume that the full version of the “Gospel of Nicodemus” was
translated into Armenian in the 5th century.

THE CONCEPTS SIMILAR TO THE TEACHING, INTERPRETATION

AND TRADITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Catholic Church finds in this

THE CONCEPTS CONTRARY TO THE TEACHING,
INTERPRETATION AND TRADITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
THE EVENTS AND NARRATIVES FOUND IN THE TEXT: ARE THEY
USEFUL FOR OUR FAITH?
PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THE EVENTS / NARRATIVE FOUND
IN THE TEXT.