...the gates of hell shall not prevail

[phoage]

OK, so check this out. I am sure that in two millennia there has been plenty of commentary on this but I have never before run across it and being slow, just noticed it.

In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, verse 18, just after Simon’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus says, “And I say to thee: Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

Now I fancy myself as a student of military history but I just noticed something. The gates of a city are at the entrance and the only time they are of any significance is when you want to get in or out. If they “…do not prevail…” against a foe, that means the foe was trying to get in (invade) and was successful. So by this verse, Jesus expects his church (which he was declaring at that moment) to invade Hell and destroy it.

So my question is, in a practical manner, how can I invade hell? If you know of anyone who has written on this, references will be appreciated.

Patrick

AMDG

 

[Wesrock]

Now I fancy myself as a student of military history but I just noticed something. The gates of a city are at the entrance and the only time they are of any significance is when you want to get in or out. If they “…do not prevail…” against a foe, that means the foe was trying to get in (invade) and was successful.

It’s a bit of an idiom of the day. The “gates of _____” refers to the military forces of the city, not the actual gate. The gates were a symbol of the forces. So it isn’t about invading hell, but the forces of hell assailing the Church.

 

[Wesrock]

From the Haydock Commentary (made in the 19th century)

Matt. vii. 24, 25. — The gates of hell, &c. That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself or his agents. For as the Church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, i.e. the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or Church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the Church of Christ. Ch. — The gates, in the Oriental style, signify the powers; thus, to this day, we designate the Ottoman or Turkish empire by the Ottoman port. The princes were wont to hold their courts at the gates of the city. V.

 

[TK421]

OK, so check this out. I am sure that in two millennia there has been plenty of commentary on this but I have never before run across it and being slow, just noticed it.

In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, verse 18, just after Simon’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus says, “And I say to thee: Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

Now I fancy myself as a student of military history but I just noticed something. The gates of a city are at the entrance and the only time they are of any significance is when you want to get in or out. If they “…do not prevail…” against a foe, that means the foe was trying to get in (invade) and was successful. So by this verse, Jesus expects his church (which he was declaring at that moment) to invade Hell and destroy it.

So my question is, in a practical manner, how can I invade hell? If you know of anyone who has written on this, references will be appreciated.

Patrick

AMDG

Jesus overcame the gates of hell when he descended into hell after his death. We can “invade” hell in the present day by praying for the souls in Purgatory.

In the present day, the demons simultaneously exist in both hell and in the world, but they can be defeated through prayer, fasting, works of mercy, perseverance, and the Sacraments.