📘 Lexicon Entry: Divine Self-Emptying

God’s kenotic self-emptying as revelatory of divine character, demonstrating divine nature through vulnerable love rather than coercive power.

A theological concept describing God’s kenotic self-emptying as revelatory of divine character rather than temporary accommodation, challenging understandings of divine power based on domination or control and revealing divine nature through vulnerable love. This concept demonstrates how divine strength manifests through apparent weakness, providing theological foundation for understanding power as service rather than domination. Divine Self-Emptying supports [Kenotic Love](placeholder-url) and Servant Power, directly challenging Prosperity Materialism by revealing divine presence through vulnerability rather than material success.

Theological Alternative

kenosis, divine self-emptying, incarnation, divine condescension, vulnerable strength, christology

Geevarghese-Uffman, Craig. “Divine Self-Emptying.” *Political Theology Lexicon*. https://www.commonlifepolitics.com/p/lexicon. Accessed [date].

Divine self-emptying reveals rather than contradicts divine nature

Kenosis manifests divine love through voluntary vulnerability

Self-limitation demonstrates divine strength rather than weakness

Divine condescension enables genuine relationship with creation

Incarnation reveals eternal divine character rather than temporary expedient

Divine self-emptying viewed as temporary accommodation rather than character revelation

Kenosis understood as divine weakness rather than strength

Self-limitation seen as divine deficiency rather than love

Divine transcendence defined by distance rather than intimate presence

Incarnation treated as exception rather than paradigm of divine action

Self-emptying as revelation of divine character rather than divine limitation

Vulnerability as expression of divine strength rather than weakness

Condescension as divine love rather than divine accommodation

Incarnation as paradigmatic rather than exceptional divine action

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 creation

Soteriological understanding of salvation through divine self-giving

Philippians 2:5-11 as paradigmatic description of divine kenosis

John 1:14 describing Word becoming flesh

Christ’s poverty for our enrichment (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Christ’s full participation in human nature (Hebrews 2:14-18)

Theological responses to suffering emphasizing divine presence rather than explanation

Leadership models based on empowerment rather than control

Interfaith dialogue grounded in kenotic rather than triumphalist approaches

Ecological theology emphasizing divine self-limitation in creation

Christological studies on kenotic theology and its implications

Trinitarian theology research on divine self-giving

Comparative religious studies on divine vulnerability across traditions

Political theological analysis of power and authority models

Related Primary Concepts: Interindependence through divine self-limitation enabling relationship

Key Alternatives: Servant Power, Being With

Theological Mutations Addressed: Prosperity Materialism, Binary Apocalypticism

Historical Context: Patristic kenotic christology, Eastern Orthodox tradition, Lutheran theology of the cross

May 23, 2025

*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.*