Theological Term of the Week
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 6:21PM 
kenosis theory
The teaching that Christ, when he become human, voluntarily gave up some or all of the powers and attributes of God, yet remained God; also called kenosis or kenotic theology.
- Scripture used to support kenosis theory:
[Christ Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7 ESV).
- From The Westminster Confession of Faith, a declaration that excludes kenosis theory:
Chapter VIII
Of Christ the Mediator
II. The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.
III. The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety. Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.
- From Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem:
Beginning with [Philippians 2:7], several theologians in Germany (from about 1860-1880) advocated a view of the incarnation that had not been advocated before in the history of the church. This new view was called the “kenosis theory,” and the overall position it represented was called “kenotic theology.” The “kenosis theory hold that Christ gave up some of his divine attributes while he was on earth as a man. … According to the theory Christ “emptied himself” of some of his divine attributes, such as omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, while he was on earth as a man. This was viewed as a voluntary self-limitation on Christ’s part, which he carried out in order to fulfill his work of redemption.
…
It is important to realize that the major force persuading people to accept kenotic theory was not that they had discovered a better understanding of Philippians 2:7 or any other passage of the New Testament, but rather the increasing discomfort people were feeling with the formulations of the doctrine of Christ in historic, classical orthodoxy. It just seemed too incredible for modern rational and “scientific” people to believe that Jesus Christ could be truly human and fully, absolutely God at the same time.
Learn more:
- Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: Kenosis/What Is Kenosis?
- Bible.org: Jesus Incarnation
- Bible.org: Will you comment on the kenosis heresy?
- Charles T. Buntin: The Empty God
- Dan Musick: Christ “Emptied” Himself (Phil. 2:7)
- Martin Downes quoting B. B. Warfield: The Cost of Kenosis Theory
Filed under Defective Theology.
This week’s term was suggested by Diane Bucknell. Do you have a term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.
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Reader Comments (3)
Thanks so much for this Rebecca. I really enjoyed reading all of the articles and have to say that I was unaware that the defective teaching regarding the emptying of Christ is known as "kenotic theology".
My beliefs on the kenosis had always been of the strictly traditional sense (pre 1800's that is) as expressed by Calvin and the Westminster Confession.
Quoting from Culver's Systematic Theology:
"A.H. Leitch asserted 'the term [kenosis] was used first in Patristic literature...and in Christian theology from about the first century...it is concerned with an emphasis on Christ's humiliation or condescension." (pg 522)
I'm glad to be aware of this poplular misusage of this term now and will be sure to point that out when I cover Phil 2:7 next month.
Thanks again and have a great Thanksgiving!
Ha! I thought this was what you meant by "kenosis".
Well, it was news to Robert too! When we checked our reference books they all covered you definitions too - including Bavinck. (of course he would seein how he and Warfied were buddies and both contending against bad theology during that time period.
See then, you have saved us from being run out of the church due to a misunderstanding of terminology. haha!