Descensus jako zjednoczenie Chrystusa z człowiekiem u Klemensa i Orygenesa
Descensus as the Union of Christ with Humanity in Clement and Origen

Summary/Abstract: This article investigates the theological significance of the descensus ad inferos in the writings of Clement of Alexandria and Origen, interpreting it as an expression of Christ’s union with humanity and as a key motif in early Christian reflection on salvation. The study situates the Alexandrian understanding of Christ’s descent within the broader context of the development of early Christian soteriology and examines its relationship to the universal horizon of salvation articulated in Article 22 of Gaudium et spes. While the doctrine of the descent originally served to affirm the salvific inclusion of the righteous of the Old Testament, Clement and Origen expanded its theological scope by emphasizing the universal reach of Christ’s redemptive presence. Through an analysis of their writings, the article demonstrates that the Alexandrian tradition understood the descent not merely as an event within salvation history but as a manifestation of Christ’s solidarity with the whole human family. In this respect, their reflections anticipate significant aspects of contemporary Catholic theology concerning the universality of salvation and the relationship between Christ and humanity.

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