Kenosis

Kenosis
  • There is much debate surrounding the Christological hymn in Philippians chapter two. Some argue that Paul did not write it, while others believe it was added later by scribes. However, some acknowledge that Paul used the hymn because it was already well known to the church. The debates don’t end there. Paul’s use of the word “Keneo,” which means “He emptied himself” in Greek, leads some to think that Jesus completely abandoned his deity. Essentially, they believe that in his humanity, he stopped being God. This idea is known as Kenotic Christology or Kenotic Doctrine in church history. But did Jesus, the Son of God, truly empty himself of his deity and live as an ordinary man? Could God actually stop being God? According to the Apostle, that could never be the case. Kenosis could only work if it was God adding to himself humanity. Kenosis was necessary because only a God-man could bring salvation to sinners.


  • It is not often that we associate Kenosis, the self-emptying of Christ, with Christmas. However, there are several Christmas songs that emphasize this Christological reality. A few examples include the timeless classic “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” which proclaims the humble birth of the Son of God and his willingness to lay aside his heavenly glory for the sake of humanity. Similarly, “Joy to the World” celebrates the arrival of the Savior and the hope he brings, while also reminding us of the sacrificial nature of his mission. The beautiful hymn “Emmanuel” highlights the profound truth that God became flesh and dwelt among us, willingly surrendering his divine privileges. Lastly, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” echoes the anticipation and longing for the Messiah, who willingly took on human form to redeem humanity. Unfortunately, due to their familiarity and commercialization, we have become desensitized to the profound theological significance behind these songs. Nativity scenes displayed in front of churches have also been reduced to mere Christmas decorations, often focusing on the cuteness of the baby Jesus rather than understanding the profound truth of who he truly was and why he was born. This Christmas, let us strive to rediscover the depth of meaning in these songs and symbols, and truly grasp the self-emptying love that Christ demonstrated through his incarnation.



  • In many Christian households, parents often tell their children that Christmas is not just about Santa Claus or receiving presents, but about Jesus. However, it is important to further explain who Jesus is and why he came. The essence of the Christmas story lies in our understanding of the identity of the baby in the manger. As we see in Philippians 2:5-11, the apostle Paul recognized this baby as the preexistent Christ, the second person of the Trinity who existed before time began. Paul firmly believed that the baby in the manger was none other than God incarnate, the divine Son who took on human form for the redemption of mankind. In Colossians 1:15, Paul famously stated, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,” emphasizing Jesus’ role as the visible representation of the invisible God and the preeminent ruler over all creation. Jesus himself claimed to be the God-man, referring to the Old Testament title of “I AM,” which nearly resulted in his death as the religious leaders understood this claim as blasphemy (John 8:58-59). In John 9:35-38, Jesus accepted worship from the healed blind man, further affirming his divine nature and authority. Even the Magi in Matthew 2 sought to worship him as their king, recognizing his regal status and significance. Therefore, understanding the true identity of Jesus is essential to fully grasp the meaning and significance of Christmas.


  • In addition, the twelve disciples of Jesus also attributed to him the Old Testament names of God, such as Adoni and YHWH. They proclaimed Jesus as Lord (Adoni, YHWH) and recognized that only he could bring salvation (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, cf. Joel 2:32). John, like Paul, regarded Jesus as Lord (12:38) and saw him as the preexisting Christ (1:1,14). Similarly, the writers of the New Testament held similar views and worshipped Jesus (2 Tim 4:18, 2 Pet 3:18, Heb 1:6). Jesus should not only be acknowledged as being born in Bethlehem or as the risen Savior and reigning King, but also as a person to be invoked, trusted, known, praised, and adored, just as God the Father is—truly divine! Every attribute that belongs to the Father also belongs to him (Col 2:9). Unfortunately, most of the world did not view him in this light. His direct enemies claimed he was demon possessed and even attempted to stone him multiple times because they believed he was blasphemous (John 8:59, 10:31, 33). He was not accepted by everyone, not even by his own people (John 1:11).


  • Christmas urges us to answer the question for ourselves: who is the baby in the manger? Do we align with the apostolic understanding, or do we, like the world, reject him?
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