What is the harrowing of hell?

Understanding 1 Peter 3:18-19

The harrowing of hell (from Old English hergian, meaning "to plunder" or "to raid") is the doctrine that Jesus Christ, between His death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday, descended to the realm of the dead. There He proclaimed His victory, liberated the righteous dead of the Old Testament, and triumphed over Satan, death, and the powers of darkness. It is one of the most ancient and widespread beliefs in Christian tradition.

Scriptural Basis

The doctrine draws on several biblical texts, though none describe the event in narrative detail:

1 Peter 3:18-20 states that Christ "went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits — to those who were disobedient long ago." This is the most direct reference, though scholars debate whether the "spirits" are fallen angels, deceased humans, or both.

1 Peter 4:6 adds: "For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead." This suggests Christ's saving work extended beyond the living.

Ephesians 4:8-10 quotes Psalm 68:18: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives." Paul interprets this as Christ first descending "to the lower, earthly regions" before ascending — implying a descent to the realm of the dead.

Matthew 27:52-53 records that at the moment of Jesus' death, "the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life" — a mysterious event that some connect to the harrowing.

Acts 2:27 (quoting Psalm 16:10): "You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your holy one see decay." Peter interprets this as David prophesying Christ's descent to and departure from Hades.

Creedal Foundation

The Apostles' Creed includes the line: "He descended into hell" (Latin: descendit ad inferos). This clause was added by the fourth century and is affirmed by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and most Reformed traditions. The Latin inferos refers to the abode of the dead generally, not specifically to the place of punishment.

Theological Interpretations

Different traditions understand the harrowing differently:

Eastern Orthodox: The harrowing is central to Orthodox theology and iconography. The most common Easter icon shows Christ standing on the broken gates of Hades, pulling Adam and Eve from their tombs, surrounded by the righteous dead being liberated. Christ's descent is the definitive defeat of death itself — not just rescue but cosmic victory.

Roman Catholic: The Catechism teaches that Christ descended to the "abode of the dead" (the limbus patrum or "limbo of the fathers") to bring salvation to the righteous who had died before His coming — Abraham, Moses, David, and all the faithful of the Old Covenant. He did not descend to the hell of the damned.

Protestant: Views vary. Luther affirmed the descent as Christ's triumph over Satan. Calvin interpreted it metaphorically as Christ's experience of God-forsakenness on the cross. Some evangelicals regard it as literal, others as figurative, and some omit the creedal clause entirely.

Significance

The harrowing of hell affirms that Christ's saving work is not limited by time — it reaches backward to the righteous dead and forward to all who will believe. It declares that no realm is outside Christ's authority: not death, not the grave, not the domain of evil. As Paul writes: "He disarmed the powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15).