GRPL ping for edification and discussion.
Posted on 02/13/2004 11:37:39 AM PST by Frumanchu
The concept of "emptying" was a raging controversy in the nineteenth century, and elements of it remain today. The Greek word used by Paul in the second chapter of Philippians, kenosis, is translated as "emptying" in most Bible versions. The question is, Of what did Jesus, in his human (incarnate) state, empty himself?
The popular view in certain circles in the nineteenth century was that at the time of the Incarnation, the eternal God, the second person of the Trinity, laid aside, emptied himself of his divine attributes so that he could become a man. And in becoming a man in the very real sense, he stopped being God. And so there is the transformation from deity to humanity because he set aside his omniscience, his omnipotence, his self-existence, and all of those other attributes that are proper to the nature of God.
There was one orthodox theologian during the middle of that controversy who said somewhat caustically that the only emptying that theory proved was the emptying of the minds of theologians who would teach such a thing as God stopping for one second to be God. If God laid aside one of his attributes, the immutable undergoes a mutation; the infinite suddenly stops being infinite; it would be the end of the universe. God cannot stop being God and still be God. So we can't talk properly of God laying aside his deity to take humanity upon himself. That is why orthodox Cliristianity has always declared that Jesus was verus homus, veras Deus -truly man, truly God; fully man and fully God. His human nature was fully human, and his divine nature always and everywhere was fully divine.
Nevertheless, the apostle Paul does speak of Christ emptying himself of something. I think the context of Philippians 2 makes it very clear that what he emptied himself of was not his deity, not his divine attributes, but his prerogatives his glory and his privileges. He willingly cloaked his glory under the veil of this human nature that he took upon himself. It's not that the divine nature stops being divine in order to become human. In the Transfiguration, for example (Matt. 17:1-13), we see the invisible divine nature break through and become visible, and Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of his disciples. But for the most part, Jesus concealed that glory. I think Paul is saying in Philippians 2 that we're to imitate a willingness to relinquish our own glory and our own privileges and prerogatives.
GRPL ping for edification and discussion.
Nevertheless, the apostle Paul does speak of Christ emptying himself of something. I think the context of Philippians 2 makes it very clear that what he emptied himself of was not his deity, not his divine attributes, but his prerogatives his glory and his privileges. He willingly cloaked his glory under the veil of this human nature that he took upon himself. It's not that the divine nature stops being divine in order to become human. In the Transfiguration, for example (Matt. 17:1-13), we see the invisible divine nature break through and become visible, and Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of his disciples. But for the most part, Jesus concealed that glory. I think Paul is saying in Philippians 2 that we're to imitate a willingness to relinquish our own glory and our own privileges and prerogatives
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:"I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."And again:
"I will put My trust in Him."And again:
"Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." -Heb 2:10-18
How great is our faithful and merciful High Priest!
Timing is important in understanding the various forces that seek to destroy God's sovereignty.
The 19th century was filled with support for all kinds of supernatural, esoteric drivel.
The United States was becoming a world power. Certain European forces sought to undermine the energetic, resourceful Reformed tradition that spawned this country and provided its industrious work ethic.
This ethic had been based on the Calvinist/Puritan concept that "work" was righteous in the eyes of God when it's done for His glory. And also on the belief that the earth was a good and Godly place, because it was created by God for His pleasure; our job being to make it into a better place to reflect God's glory.
Enter the naturalists, the theosophists, the socialists, the Fabians, the spiritualists, the social psychologists, and various liberal denominations, like the Unitarians, all singing in the same choir of universalism.
They each shared the pagan notion that man possesses "a spark of God within him." And this error goes right along with the idea that God could stop being God and become simply a man. Because if "simply a man" can really be a man who changes into a God, so should we be able to morph into that "divinity" which is "naturally inside us."
The hard and eternal truth is that God is God and man is man, and the two are as differentiated as the "Sculptor" is from his "clay."
It's no coincidence that those who built this country were strict Predestinarians. As the country has moved away from its founders' belief in a sovereign God, it has drifted into metaphysical mumbo-jumbo, horoscopes and Oprah.
Don't you know it.
It is a spousal emptying. The Lord is Bridegroom, and his kenosis is a spousal total gift of self to his beloved, the Church.
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