PHILIPPIANS 2:5–11
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness
(Philippians 2:6–7).
In the nineteenth century a new heresy arose around the person of Christ: the kenotic heresy. The kenotic theory held that the divine Logos, prior to incarnation, parted voluntarily with either all or part of His divine attributes. They held that the Word or Son of God divested Himself of His deity when He was incarnated as Jesus.
This error is based on a misunderstanding of Philippians 2:6–7. In the Authorized Version (King James), verse 7 says that Jesus “made Himself of no reputation.” In the Revised Standard Version, we read that Jesus “emptied Himself.” The Greek word here is kenosis, which does mean “empty” in some sense, and thus the idea that the Christ emptied Himself of His divinity at the incarnation is called “the kenotic heresy.” The kenotic theory cannot stand the test of exegesis. Philippians 2:8 is clearly not speaking of an emptying of deity but rather an emptying of glory. The context has to do with humiliation, not with metaphysics. Notice how Paul continues: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).
The reverse of this procedure was not a re-adoption of deity, but a reinvestment with glory. “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:9–10). Compare Jesus’ own words in John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”
As one twentieth century theologian put it, the kenotic theory states that the incarnation took place by divine suicide, which is of course an impossibility. How can God stop being God? Implicit in the kenotic theory is a form of “death of God” theology.
CORAM DEO
Exodus 11, 12
Matthew 18:21–25
WEEKEND
Exodus 13–18
Matthew 19
Pray today for John Sartelle, who will be addressing the humility of Christ as He “lays His glory by.” Also pray for Becky Pippert, Chuck Colson, John Guest, Synesio Lyra, Jr., and Mike Malone, who will be speaking at the Ligonier “Majesty of Christ” conference in Orlando.
For further study: Isaiah 53:1–6; John 17:1–5; 2 Corinthians 8:9
WEEKEND