📘 Lexicon Entry: Kenotic Love

Short Definition
Divine love characterized by self-emptying for the sake of the other, revealing God’s power through voluntary vulnerability rather than coercive force.
Definition
A theological concept describing divine love as fundamentally characterized by self-emptying (kenosis) for the sake of the other, revealed paradigmatically in Christ’s incarnation and crucifixion, where God’s power is manifested through voluntary vulnerability rather than coercive force. This self-giving pattern establishes the fundamental nature of divine love and serves as the model for authentic human love. Kenotic Love directly counters Prosperity Materialism by redefining divine blessing through cruciform rather than triumphalist patterns, and provides theological foundation for Servant Power through communities capable of vulnerability rather than domination.
Category
Theological Alternative
Keywords
kenosis, self-emptying love, cruciform pattern, vulnerable strength, divine character, sacrificial love
Citation Guide
Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Kenotic Love.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].
Orthodox Alternatives
Divine love is fundamentally kenotic, revealed through self-emptying rather than self-exaltation
The cross reveals rather than contradicts divine power
Authentic strength manifests through vulnerability rather than invulnerability
Divine engagement with suffering occurs through presence rather than distance
Love requires self-limitation to create space for the other’s flourishing
Mutated Position
Divine love reconceived as sentimental affection divorced from sacrificial action
Love reduced to utilitarian effectiveness rather than sacrificial presence
Cross interpreted as necessary transaction rather than revelation of divine character
Divine power understood through domination rather than service
Strength identified with invulnerability rather than capacity for vulnerability
Key Characteristics
Self-emptying as revelation of divine character rather than divine weakness
Power manifested through vulnerability rather than invulnerability
Love expressed through self-limitation that creates space for others
Cruciform pattern as paradigm for authentic human relationships
Theological Foundations
Philippians 2:5-11 as paradigmatic description of divine kenosis
Trinitarian theology of eternal self-giving among divine persons
Incarnational theology revealing divine commitment to presence with creation
Cruciform understanding of divine power through apparent weakness
Biblical Foundation
Christ’s kenosis described in Philippians: "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave" (Philippians 2:5-11)
Jesus’s teaching on servant greatness (Mark 10:43)
Greatest love through self-sacrifice (John 15:13)
Footwashing as embodiment of kenotic leadership (John 13:1-17)
Contemporary Expression
Leadership models that empower others through self-limitation
Ministry approaches emphasizing accompaniment through suffering rather than mere explanation
Community formation based on mutual vulnerability rather than strength display
Contemplative practices that participate in divine self-emptying
Academic Research
Theological studies on kenotic christology and its implications for ethics
Comparative analysis of kenotic themes across Christian traditions
Psychological research on vulnerability and strength in relationships
Political theological engagement with power and authority models
Key Authors
Path Navigation
Related Primary Concepts: Interindependence through mutual self-giving
Key Alternatives: Servant Power, Being With
Theological Mutations Addressed: Prosperity Materialism, Binary Apocalypticism
Historical Context: Patristic kenotic christology, Eastern Orthodox tradition, contemporary theology of the cross
Last Updated
May 23, 2025
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*This entry is part of the Political Theology Lexicon, accessible exclusively to subscribers. View the complete lexicon to explore related concepts and the full theoretical framework.*
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