The Kenosis Doctrine: Divine Power or Human Submission? You Decide
The doctrine of the Kenosis (κϵˊνωσιζ), or Christ’s self-emptying, is the hinge upon which Christology turns. Derived from the instruction that Christ “made himself of no reputation” (Philippians 2:7, KJV), the controversy lies not in His humility, but in what divine element He relinquished to become truly human. This single decision affects how we understand His miracles, His knowledge, and the prophetic model for His followers.
Side A: The Orthodox View (The Restraint of Privilege)
This traditional, or Reformed, interpretation of the Kenosis holds that Christ remained fully God—never surrendering a single divine attribute—but voluntarily chose not to exercise the privileges and power that belonged to Him.
The Thesis: Voluntary Restraint
Christ retained attributes like Omniscience and Omnipotence, but He freely submitted the independent use of these powers to the will of the Father.
| KJV Evidence | The Orthodox Interpretation | The Implication |
| Mark 13:32 (KJV): “neither the Son, but the Father.” | Christ, as the God-man, voluntarily restricted the exercise of His divine omniscience in His human consciousness. He chose to live within the functional limits of humanity. | The Perfect Example: Christ proves that a human can live sinlessly in perfect dependence on God, as He was empowered by the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38). |
| Philippians 2:7 (KJV): “made himself of no reputation” | He set aside the glory, position, and independent rights of Deity, taking on the weakness and vulnerability of a servant’s form (morpheˉ). | Upholds Deity: This view is necessary to maintain the fundamental truth that God cannot cease to be God, even for a moment (Colossians 2:9). |
Summary of Side A
This view emphasizes Christ’s moral example of humility and absolute obedience. He lived a life of faith, not as a shortcut, guaranteeing the efficacy of His sacrifice as the spotless, eternal Son of God.
Side B: The Kenoticism Theory (The Renunciation of Attributes)
This less-accepted, more controversial interpretation takes the word “emptied” (ekenosen) literally, arguing that for Jesus to be truly human, He must have actually relinquished or suspended certain attributes of His deity during His earthly life.
The Thesis: Essential Renunciation
To truly experience human limitation, Christ laid aside the functional use of His “relative” attributes (Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Omniscience), retaining only His “essential” moral attributes (Love, Holiness, Truth).
| KJV Evidence | The Kenotic Interpretation | The Controversy |
| Mark 13:32 (KJV): “neither the Son, but the Father.” | Christ ceased to be omniscient while on Earth. If the Son did not know the hour, the attribute of universal knowledge was not present in His person during the Incarnation. | Heresy Risk: Critics argue that relinquishing any essential attribute means Christ was temporarily less than God—a fundamental attack on the doctrine of the Trinity and His saving ability. |
| Philippians 2:7 (KJV): “made himself of no reputation” | He surrendered the use of His divine power to the extent that He was susceptible to real temptation, hunger, and fatigue, making His humanity more authentic. | The Power Transfer: If Christ’s power was surrendered, some argue that believers, having the same Holy Spirit, are now equal in power and authority to the Incarnate Son—a position widely rejected by orthodox theology. |
Summary of Side B
This view emphasizes the authenticity of Christ’s humanity and the reality of His limitations. It allows for a more straightforward reading of verses like Mark 13:32, but risks compromising the eternal, unchangeable nature of the Godhead.
The Return Question: The Unbroken Sovereignty
Regardless of which side of the Kenosis one leans toward, both views agree on the prophetic conclusion relevant to The Lord’s Return: The Exaltation of Christ is absolute.
The self-limitation (whether restraint or renunciation) was always voluntary and temporary, and it resulted in Christ receiving the ultimate reward and authority:
Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV): “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name… that every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The certainty of His return is rooted in the fact that His moment of humility is over, and His eternal Sovereignty is now unbreakable and complete.