Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Kenosis (self-emptying)

The Son 'emptied himself' (Phil 2:7) in becoming man — classically, by veiling his glory and taking the form of a servant, not by giving up any divine attribute.

Greek kenoo, 'to empty'; from Philippians 2:7, heauton ekenosen.

Philippians 2:6–8.

The classical reading: he added a servant's form, he did not subtract deity. Some nineteenth- and twentieth-century 'kenotic' theologians argued the Son actually surrendered the independent exercise of omniscience or omnipotence during the earthly life.

On the classical view, the 'emptying' is the taking — the humility is in assuming humanity and obedience, not in ceasing to be God.

Kenotic Christologies remain a minority and are resisted by the historic churches as compromising immutability.

Open in the glossary for related terms and the doctrines this concept appears in.