kenosis

Definition

Christ's voluntary abasement consisting of humanity and the simultaneous occultation of the Divinity.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κένωσις (kénōsis, “emptying”) (see keno- and κενό (kenó)), from κενόειν (kenóein, “to empty”) (with reference to Philippians 2.vii, "But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are" – New Jerusalem Version).

Example Sentences

• "So then, kenosis is the general way in which God interacts with the world. It is interesting to ponder that the term kenosis is most frequently linked to Christ's voluntary renunciation of certain divine attributes in order to identify himself with mankind, as recorded in the Pauline hymn found in Phil 2:5–11."