Kenosis and the Incarnation of Jesus

[Joseph Gill]

Kenosis (a form of the Greek word appears in Phil. 2:7 and is translated "to empty") explains how the second person of the Trinity emptied Himself through incarnation. The idea is that God the Son chose to limit Himself in relation to His creation, and suppress His divine attributes. This understanding is useful in answering why in his sojourn on earth, we see Jesus in situations where he does not appear to be omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient. By this means Jesus also subjected himself to the Father while on earth.

[Joseph Gill]

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! [Phil. 2:5-8, Amplified Bible]