Editing Christian mythology (section)

===Descent to the underworld===
[[Image:Harrowhell.jpg|thumb|right|The Harrowing of Hell, depicted in the ''[[Petites Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry|Petites Heures de Jean de Berry]]'', 14th-century [[illuminated manuscript]]]]
According to David Leeming, writing in ''The Oxford Companion to World Mythology'', the harrowing of hell is an example of the motif of the hero's [[descent to the underworld]], which is common in many mythologies.<ref name="leemingdescent"/> According to Christian tradition, Christ descended to hell after his death in order to free the souls there; this event is known as the [[Harrowing of Hell]]. This story is narrated in the [[Gospel of Nicodemus]] and may be the meaning behind 1 Peter 3:18–22.<ref>Every 65–66</ref><ref group="n">Every also sees New Testament references to the general resurrection (e.g. in John 5:25–29) as connected with the harrowing of hell, because he believes that early Christianity did not distinguish clearly between the Christ's liberation of souls from hell and the general resurrection (Every 66).</ref>