Biblical Answer

The concept of 'kenosis' in Philippians 2:5-11 sheds light on the nature of God and the incarnation by providing a nuanced understanding of Jesus' divine and human natures. The term kenosis, derived from the Greek verb kenod, generally means "to empty" or "to pour out." In the context of Philippians 2:7, it refers to Jesus' voluntary self-emptying or humiliation, where he took on human form and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:8). This concept challenges the traditional understanding of the incarnation, where Jesus' divinity is seen as being diminished or compromised by his human nature. Instead, the kenosis view suggests that Jesus' divine nature was not diminished, but rather, he chose to set aside certain privileges and attributes of his divinity in order to take on human form and fulfill his mission.

The kenosis view is supported by the context of Philippians 2:5-11, which emphasizes Jesus' equality with God and his voluntary self-emptying. The passage states that Jesus did not regard his equality with God as something to be exploited, but rather, he emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:6-8). This self-emptying is not seen as a loss of divine attributes, but rather, a temporary setting aside of certain privileges and attributes in order to fulfill his mission. The passage also emphasizes the honor and privilege that Jesus deserved, but temporarily gave up for us (Phil. 2:7-8). This view of the incarnation is consistent with the biblical understanding of Jesus as fully God and fully man, with two natures that are united in one person.

The implications of the kenosis view of Philippians 2:5-11 are significant for our understanding of the nature of God and the incarnation. It challenges the traditional understanding of the incarnation, where Jesus' divinity is seen as being diminished or compromised by his human nature. Instead, it suggests that Jesus' divine nature was not diminished, but rather, he chose to set aside certain privileges and attributes of his divinity in order to take on human form and fulfill his mission. This view also emphasizes the voluntary nature of Jesus' self-emptying, which is a key aspect of the kenosis concept. The kenosis view provides a nuanced understanding of the incarnation, highlighting the complexity and depth of Jesus' divine and human natures.