The Self-Emptying of God Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

The Self-Emptying of God For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

The Self-Emptying of God Behold the Father is His daughter’s Son, The bird that built the nest is hatched therein; The old of years an hour hath not outrun, Eternal life to live doth now begin, The Word is dumb, the mirth of heaven doth weep, Might feeble is, and force doth faintly creep.

Did Jesus Have All the “God Stuff”? Attributes of God Infinite Omniscience (all-knowing) Omnipotent (all-powerful) Omnipresent (being everywhere)

Did Jesus Have All the “Human Stuff”? Attributes of human beings Finite Limited knowledge Limited power Limited location

A Contradiction? Is Jesus both infinite and finite? Knows everything but doesn’t know some things? “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:28 All-powerful but can’t do some things? “And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.” Mark 6:5

The Usual Answer Jesus has two natures: As God He was infinite; As human He was finite. As God He knew everything; As human there are things He didn’t know. As God He was all-powerful; As human there were things He could not do. As God He was everywhere; As human He was limited to one place.

Jesus is a single person and His two natures are undivided and shared. The “Kenotic” Answer Jesus is a single person and His two natures are undivided and shared. By His own choice He “laid aside” the attributes of God. Jesus remained God, but did not bring divine power and knowledge with Him. Instead, like any other human being (cf. Peter John), He did the works of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Rephrasing Language about God The [Kenotic] Attributes of God Infinite, unless He chooses not to be. Omniscient, unless He chooses not to be. Omnipotent, unless He chooses not to be. Omnipresent, unless He chooses not to be. “I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.” John 10:17, 18

The Nicene Creed “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through Him all things were made.”

Creed of Chalcedon “ At once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting of reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; one and the same Christ, Lord, Son, Only begotten, in two natures, without confusion, with out change, without separation.”

One more summary: 1. Jesus is fully human. 2. Jesus is fully divine. 3. Jesus’ two natures are unified.

Trinity and Christology Trinity of God 1 substance or being (ousia) in 3 persons (hypostases) Incarnation of Christ 1 Person (hypostasis) with 2 natures (physeis)