Biblical Answer

The concept of 'kenosis' in Philippians 2:5-11 is a complex and multifaceted idea that has been interpreted in various ways throughout history. At its core, kenosis refers to the idea that Jesus, as the Son of God, voluntarily relinquished some of his divine attributes and privileges in order to take on human form and live among humanity. This concept is often seen as a way of explaining the incarnation, or the idea that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ.

However, a closer examination of the text reveals that the concept of kenosis is not as straightforward as it may seem. Some interpreters have suggested that the kenosis view of Philippians 2:7, which holds that Jesus gave up some of his divine attributes while on earth, is not supported by the text. Instead, the text may be suggesting that Jesus did not regard his equality with God as something to be exploited, but rather emptied himself of his divine privileges in order to take on human form. This idea is supported by the fact that Jesus is described as being in the form of God, but did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited.

The concept of kenosis has significant implications for our understanding of the nature of God and the incarnation. If Jesus did not give up his divine attributes, but rather took on human form in order to serve and save humanity, then this has important implications for our understanding of God's nature. It suggests that God is not limited by human form, but rather is capable of taking on human form in order to relate to humanity. This idea has significant implications for our understanding of the Trinity, and highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between the divine and human natures of Jesus. Ultimately, the concept of kenosis in Philippians 2:5-11 is a rich and complex idea that challenges us to think deeply about the nature of God and the incarnation.