Kenosis, what is it?

The new testament was originally written in the Greek language. "kenosis" is a Greek word which means "self emptying or to be emptied". "Kenosis" is an important word in biblical theology which carries rich meaning. In Christendom, "kenosis" is often associated with the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the book of Philippians, the apostle by the leading of the Holy Spirit wrote: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7). The apostle says that Jesus Christ was in the form of God, but at a point he made himself of "no reputation" and took upon him the form of a servant. The phrase "no reputation" is the Greek word for "kenosis". The NASB translates the passage in this way: who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men''. It is clear from the passage, that Jesus Christ was already in existence as God, he was in the form of God, he possessed all the fullness of the attributes that makes God God, but for a good reason he voluntarily "emptied himself". So now the question is, what did Jesus Christ emptied himself of ?

It is quite unfortunate that certain theologians have a distorted view of the true meaning of the kenosis of Christ. They have stretched the truth to the extreme and have fallen into grievous error. Some understand "kenosis" to mean that Jesus divested himself of his divine nature in order to take on flesh. They believe in the preexistence of Christ prior to his self emptying, but they hold the view that he set aside his deity and ceased to be God when he became Man. Others also are of the view that Jesus Christ exchanged his divine nature for his human nature. Others also believe and teach that Jesus Christ was fully God on earth and not Man, but only appeared to be human. All this and more are unbiblical view of what the bible truly teaches concerning the "kenosis of Christ''. Learn this, Jesus Christ did not cease to be God when he took on flesh, the reason being that God cannot cease to be God not even for a second. The nature of God is eternal, therefore it is absurd for anyone to assume that Jesus Christ ceased to be God in his incarnation. I love what John Calvin, an excellent French reformer and theologian wrote concerning the dual nature of Christ, "When it is said that the word was made flesh. He who was the Son of God became the Son of Man, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For we maintain that the divinity was so conjoined and united with humanity, that the entire properties of each nature remain entire, and yet the two natures constitute only one Christ".

This means that Jesus Christ was both God and Man at the same time in his incarnation. It is important to also know that Jesus Christ did not exchange his deity for his human nature, no, such reasoning is absurd, God cannot exchange his divine nature for any other thing, but what he did was to take an additional nature into union with himself. Also on earth, Jesus did not appear to be human, but was fully human. As a human being, he was born, he went through the natural cycle of life. He grew in stature and in wisdom, he was tired, hungry, and could die. The bible says: "That being found in the fashion as a Man " (Philippians 2; 8). This tells us that Jesus did not appear to be human, but was fully human. ''kenosis'' is all about how Jesus Christ emptied himself of the use of his rights and privileges as God to take on the form of a servant. ''Kenosis'' speaks about what Jesus Christ gave up in order to take on human flesh. As part of his "kenosis" he stripped himself of his heavenly glory to be found in the fashion as a Man. He veiled his glory as God, to partake of flesh and blood, he became Man so he could offer a propitiatory sacrifice on our behalf. Also as part of his self emptying, he relinquished his own will to do the will of the father. He completely submitted himself to do the father's will during his time on earth (John 6; 38). Also as part of his self emptying, he laid aside the use of his omnipresence to be confined to the limitations of the human flesh.

 On earth, he was limited to one place at a time, but prior to his self emptying he was ubiquitous. As part of his "kenosis" he divested himself of the knowledge of his second coming. That is why he made the statement that he himself did not know the time of his second coming: But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father (Mark 13:32). He laid aside the knowledge of his second coming when he took on flesh and dwelt among us. Also as part of his self emptying, he self restricted the use of his power to save himself. For instance, he had the power to save himself when he was arrested and crucified on the cross, he could have easily saved himself, but no, he didn't as part of his "kenosis". As part of his self emptying, he became hungry, thirsty, he experienced tiredness and could die. But before his incarnation, when he was in the form of God, it was impossible for him to be hungry, thirsty, be weary and even die. Kenosis in biblical Christianity speaks about how Jesus who was in the form of God, gave up the use of his rights and privileges as God to be found in the fashion as a Man, in order to lay down his precious life for us. God bless you

                     A thought to ponder

Jesus Christ did not cease to be God when he took on flesh, the reason being that God cannot cease to be God not even for a second

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