The definition of Kenosis is the renunciation of the divine nature, at least in part, by Christ in the incarnation. (cited in Philippians 2:6)
How could Christ not know what time the Father had planned the second advent and still be divine?
Also, how could Christ not have known what time the Father had planned the second advent and not have a kenotic nature?
Philippians chapter 2 verses 6-9
There are two wrong extremes when trying to understand
Philippians 2:6-9, "
The Powerless Non-Divine-In-Attributes Yet Still God View" and "
The Pretending to Humble Himself or Pretending to Be Limited Like A Man When He is Not View." This first wrong extreme is saying that Jesus was pretending to be God, and this second wrong extreme is saying that Jesus was pretending to be a man. Both are wrong extremes that attempt to deny one certain aspect of the Incarnation.
A. The Powerless Non-Divine-In-Attributes Yet Still God View:
(Superman Lost His Powers And Yet He is Still Superman Type View):
(A Denial of the Full Deity of Christ):
One extreme is to say that Christ emptied Himself completely of His divine powers (As if He did not have those powers anymore), which is a misunderstanding of verse 7.
In fact, regarding verse 7, “The verb "to empty" has given rise to a false misunderstanding of the incarnation. Undue theological exploitations have cast a heavy shadow on its meaning. It should be said at the outset that the verb must be understood metaphorically, not metaphysically. It says nothing about Christ stripping himself of his divine attributes (As if they were gone completely) as has sometimes been suggested.”
AND
”The verb ‘to empty’ is used elsewhere in the Pauline Epistles four times (
Romans 4:14;
1 Corinthians 1:17;
1 Corinthians 9:15), and in each instance it is used metaphorically in the sense of ‘to bring to nothing,’ ‘to make worthless,’ or ‘to empty of significance.’
Anyways, the major problem with this view is that Jesus is God (or divine) and yet He does not have the essence or proof of having any of those divine privileges to actually back up His claim that He is God 100%. He is only pretending or claiming to be God. Or He is a part of the Godhead, but yet He is a crippled member or person within the Trinity. Which is wrong.
B. The Pretending to Humble Himself or Pretending to Be Limited Like A Man When He is Not View:
(The Clark Kent Disguise):
(Superman is Pretending to Be A Man When He is Not Type View):
(A Denial of the Full Humanity of Christ):
Another misunderstand of
Philippians 2:6-9 is to say that Christ did not humble himself being found in the fashion of a man but He rather was pretending to be a man and was pretending to humble himself (When He really was not). For in this view: Christ was pretending to be humble yet showboating his divine powers. Christ knew all things and yet He was pretending not to know certain things. Christ could be tempted in all points like we were (
Hebrews 4:12), but in reality He was not actually tempted because God cannot be tempted (
James 1:13). So in this wrong view, Jesus used His powers at 100% capacity and was only pretending to be a man. Yes, in this view He has a physical body, but that is it. He was only putting on a show that He was like a man internally. He was not really our substitute completely in this view. Which is also wrong.
C. Jesus Humbled Himself As A Servant Being Fashioned as a Man (Not Exalting His Own Power As the Son of God So As To Rule By Force):
(Superman & His Super Powers Originate From His Spirit Inside The Mortal Physical Body of Clark Kent & He Can Access His Superman Powers At Any Moment But He Chooses To Suppress Some of Them Instead).
(Superman does This Fully Realizing That His Physical Body Will Eventually Die Being As A Mortal Man or As Clark Kent):
(It is Superman's Spirit Who is Eternal and Has All the Power that Makes Him Superman; Yet, the Mortal Physical Body of Clark Kent Will Die; Until After He Dies and Rises From the Grave, He Then Provides For Himself an Immortal Flesh and Blood Human Body).
(A Recognition of The Full Deity & Full Humanity of Jesus Christ):
In the correct teaching, Jesus still has His divine attributes and abilities but when He was made flesh as a man upon the Earth, He merely chose to suppress or not use some of His divine privileges or powers. The "emptying" or the "giving up of his divine privileges" is speaking in reference of a choice in not using some of those powers. It has nothing to do with him in not having them. For it's like saying I gave up running. But I still can choose to run if I desire, though. It's like saying, I "emptied" or "deprived" myself in authority and actions as governor for the weekend and decided to go fishing instead. Jesus humbled himself and gave no reputation as being the Son of God by using His own powers personally. For Jesus said that the works that He did were of the Father. Jesus was obedient to the Father until the point of death. But yet, also Jesus said He and the Father are one. That Jesus abides in the Father and the Father abides in Him. In fact, "...God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, ...." (
2 Corinthians 5:19). For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (
Colossians 2:9). In the false understanding on Philippians 2:6-9 (that says that Christ gave up deity or His divine powers), this is not true. For if a certain aspect of the Eternal Word is crippled and punished and is completely stripped of any divine attributes (As if they do not exist for Him anymore) He would not fully be God. So this is wrong. This would mean God can change in essence and being. But we know that God does not change (
Malachi 3:6). We know that the Lord is God from everlasting to everlasting (
Psalm 90:2). For if one believes the Eternal Word within the Godhead is no longer in possession of His divine attributes, it destroys the immutability of the Son of God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (
Hebrews 13:8).
Yeah, but how do we know Jesus still has His divine attributes or powers as God? Well, Jesus Himself said that He still has power like the Father. For Jesus said,
"For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will." In fact, Jesus actually tells us that He uses this power elsewhere in Scripture.
Jesus answered and said unto them,
"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (
John 2:19).
Source Used:
http://www.errantskeptics.org/Jesus-Christ-Kenosis.htm
(Note: I quote a part of this article. Not that I agree with their position, but because I am stating a truth that makes a point).
That's confusing. How can God be both infinite and yet restricted?
