Meaning of KENOSIS

Term gr. which means "dispossession", "emptying" (Phil. 2:7, 8), used of the incarnation of the Eternal Son of God to become man, Jesus of Nazareth.

Through “kenosis,” Jesus voluntarily assumed human nature in a perfect, sinless manner. He voluntarily submitted himself to the circumstances of human nature (cf. Jn. 4:6: “weary of the journey”).

However, the fact of "kenosis" cannot be used, as some claim, to limit the value of Jesus' pronouncements as conditioned by the views of his time. He knew when he did not know something as a Man and it was not possible for him to manifest it (cf. Mr. 13:32).

On the other hand, we can be sure that, just as his entire life was lived in close communion with the Father, nothing he said was imperfect or colored by any ignorance, but rather everything that the Father wanted to show us (cf. Jn . 8:28).

For a fair understanding of "kenosis" one must take into account the perfect divinity of Christ, his perfect humanity and his consequent absolute dependence on the Father as a beloved Son, and on God as a perfect servant.