1. The Incarnation: Philippians 2
Cary Christian School
The Incarnation: Philippians 2

2. Notations about Philippians 2:1-11
The Context is Humility
The verb “kenao” is the focus in the Christological section
The question is what does it mean
Romans 4:14
1 Cor. 1:17
1 Cor. 9:15
2 Cor. 9:3
How does that meaning work within the context?

3. How does it flow? Had an attitude of Humility
Christ was (pre[existed]) in the “Form” of God
Did not hang on to that “form” at all costs (“with white knuckles”)
Emptied Himself
Now too the “form’ of a bond-servant
Made in the likeness of men
Had the appearance of a man
Showed humility by obedience
Obedience led to death
The Death was on a Cross

4. How does it flow? (cont.) God exalted Him
Made His name reside over all others
All will worship Him at His name
The name is “Lord”

5. What did He empty Himself of?
The Incarnation: Philippians 2

6. Options Deity Communicable + Incommunicable Attributes
Only Incommunicable Attributes
Communicable or Incommunicable Attributes via self-limitation
Certain Attributes
Glory

7. Some Samples
"Christ had a human soul, to which the Logos imparted his divinity, little by little until he became completely divine" (Dorner). 
Christ "laid aside his deity which was then restored at the ascension" (Gess and Beecher). 
He "abandoned certain prerogatives of the divine mode of existence in order to assume the human," e.g., omniscience" (Gore). 
"He surrendered the external, physical attributes of omniscience, though retaining the attributes of love and truth (A. M. Fairbairn). This was also held by Thomasius, Deilitzsch, and H. Crosby. 

8. Some Samples
"Christ "lived a double life from two, non- communicating life centers. As God, he continued his Trinitarian and providential existence, and as man he was united with a human nature. He did not know consciously anything of his divine, Trinitarian existence" (Martensen). Wha!?!
"He disguised his deity and attributes, not by giving them up, but by limiting them to a time-form appropriate to a human mode of existence ... His attributes could only be expressed in relation to the (human) time and space that his human form could experience" (Ebrard). 

9. Some Samples
"He gave up the use of the attributes (cf. Carson, FD&FPJ, 35).
""He gave up the independent exercise of the divine attributes (Strong, ST, 703).
""He limited himself to the voluntary non-use of the attributes (Walvoord).”

10. Did the Son really relinquish use of the attributes during the Incarnation?

11. What about another option?

12. A Problem: The Text  Attributes Exercised Scriptures Creator
Sovereignty
Judgment
Omnipotence
Omnipresence
Omniscience
Matt. 14:15-21
Matt. 2:2, 27:11
Luke 7:36-50
John 4:46-54
John 1:44-51
Matt. 9:1-8

13. A Problem: The Text  Attributes Exercised Scriptures Immutability
Eternity
Goodness
Mercy
Love
Freedom
John 8:56-59; Mark 9:2-8
John 8:56-59
John 10
Matt. 9:36, John 8:1-11
John 10:11-17, 15:13; 1 John 3:16
John 10:18

14. A Problem: The Text  Attributes Exercised Scriptures Self-Existence
Triunity
Righteousness
Truth
John 8:56-59
John 14:7-15, 17:21
Matt.3:15, Luke 7:36-50
John 14:6

15. So . . . What did He empty Himself of?!?

16. John 17 – The High Priestly Prayer
4 “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

17. “. . . glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

18. What did He empty Himself of? Glory

19. What about the Transfiguration?
See John 1:14 & 1 Timothy 3:16
Certainly “a” glory, but one that was shrouded in flesh
Think again on Exodus 33:17-23
20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”

20. What did He empty Himself of? Glory

21. The Incarnation: Philippians 2
Cary Christian School
The Incarnation: Philippians 2