Kenosis
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Kenosis (from the Greek kenoō, “to empty”) is the theological idea that Christ “emptied” himself when he became human. It comes from Philippians 2:5–8, where Paul says Jesus “made himself nothing” (or “emptied himself”) by taking human form, humbling himself, and becoming obedient to death.
Common meanings:
- Classical/ontological: Jesus relinquished some divine attributes or the independent use of them while on earth (controversial).
- Functional/voluntary self-limitation: Christ retained full deity but willingly limited the independent exercise of divine powers to live truly as a human.
- Exemplary/moral: Jesus’ self-emptying is a model of humility and service that Christians should follow.
Why it matters:
- Explains how Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
- Shapes Christian ideas about humility, service, and incarnation.
- Has been debated in church history because of implications for Christ’s divinity and attributes.
Key text: Philippians 2:5–11.
The Seven Spirits of God — The Flame of the Menorah
The menorah was a seven-branched lamp used in the Jewish temple. Its seven flames help us understand the “seven spirits of God” mentioned in the Bible. These seven describe the full work of the Holy Spirit. They are not seven different spirits but seven ways one Spirit works.
What the seven mean (based on Isaiah 11:2–3)
- Spirit of the Lord: God’s own presence and authority.
- Spirit of Wisdom: The ability to use what we know in a good way.
- Spirit of Understanding: The ability to see what things really mean.
- Spirit of Counsel: Help and guidance when we must decide.
- Spirit of Might (Power): Strength to do what God asks.
- Spirit of Knowledge: Learning God’s truth and remembering it.
- Spirit of the Fear of the Lord: Respect and awe for God that shapes how we live.
Why the menorah helps us see this
- One light, many rays: The menorah has seven lights from one lampstand. The Holy Spirit is one, but shows Himself in many ways.
- Always burning: The menorah was kept lit all the time. The Spirit’s presence is meant to be with God’s people continually.
- Shows the way: The lights help people see. The Spirit gives wisdom, understanding, and guidance.
- Works together: Each flame adds to the whole light. The Spirit’s different gifts work together to help the church.
How this matters to us
- Want the whole Spirit, not just parts. Ask for wisdom, power, respect for God, and knowledge together.
- Keep respect for God central. “Fear of the Lord” keeps us humble and right.
- Use gifts together. The church is stronger when believers use different gifts for the same goal.
- Be changed inside and sent out. The Spirit shapes our hearts and gives power to serve others.
Isaiah 11:1–5 (KJV)
- And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
- And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
- And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.
- But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
- And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Revelation 1:4 (KJV)
- John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
- And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 4:5 (KJV)
- And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 5:6 (KJV)
- And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
-
Kenosis (from the Greek kenoō, “to empty”) is the theological idea that Christ “emptied” himself when he became human. It comes from Philippians 2:5–8, where Paul says Jesus “made himself nothing” (or “emptied himself”) by taking human form, humbling himself, and becoming obedient to death.
Common meanings:
- Classical/ontological: Jesus relinquished some divine attributes or the independent use of them while on earth (controversial).
- Functional/voluntary self-limitation: Christ retained full deity but willingly limited the independent exercise of divine powers to live truly as a human.
- Exemplary/moral: Jesus’ self-emptying is a model of humility and service that Christians should follow.
Why it matters:
- Explains how Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
- Shapes Christian ideas about humility, service, and incarnation.
- Has been debated in church history because of implications for Christ’s divinity and attributes.
Key text: Philippians 2:5–11.
The Seven Spirits of God — The Flame of the Menorah
The menorah was a seven-branched lamp used in the Jewish temple. Its seven flames help us understand the “seven spirits of God” mentioned in the Bible. These seven describe the full work of the Holy Spirit. They are not seven different spirits but seven ways one Spirit works.
What the seven mean (based on Isaiah 11:2–3)
- Spirit of the Lord: God’s own presence and authority.
- Spirit of Wisdom: The ability to use what we know in a good way.
- Spirit of Understanding: The ability to see what things really mean.
- Spirit of Counsel: Help and guidance when we must decide.
- Spirit of Might (Power): Strength to do what God asks.
- Spirit of Knowledge: Learning God’s truth and remembering it.
- Spirit of the Fear of the Lord: Respect and awe for God that shapes how we live.
Why the menorah helps us see this
- One light, many rays: The menorah has seven lights from one lampstand. The Holy Spirit is one, but shows Himself in many ways.
- Always burning: The menorah was kept lit all the time. The Spirit’s presence is meant to be with God’s people continually.
- Shows the way: The lights help people see. The Spirit gives wisdom, understanding, and guidance.
- Works together: Each flame adds to the whole light. The Spirit’s different gifts work together to help the church.
How this matters to us
- Want the whole Spirit, not just parts. Ask for wisdom, power, respect for God, and knowledge together.
- Keep respect for God central. “Fear of the Lord” keeps us humble and right.
- Use gifts together. The church is stronger when believers use different gifts for the same goal.
- Be changed inside and sent out. The Spirit shapes our hearts and gives power to serve others.
Isaiah 11:1–5 (KJV)
- And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
- And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
- And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.
- But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
- And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Revelation 1:4 (KJV)
- John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
- And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 4:5 (KJV)
- And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 5:6 (KJV)
- And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
-
Kenosis (from the Greek kenoō, “to empty”) is the theological idea that Christ “emptied” himself when he became human. It comes from Philippians 2:5–8, where Paul says Jesus “made himself nothing” (or “emptied himself”) by taking human form, humbling himself, and becoming obedient to death.
Common meanings:
- Classical/ontological: Jesus relinquished some divine attributes or the independent use of them while on earth (controversial).
- Functional/voluntary self-limitation: Christ retained full deity but willingly limited the independent exercise of divine powers to live truly as a human.
- Exemplary/moral: Jesus’ self-emptying is a model of humility and service that Christians should follow.
Why it matters:
- Explains how Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
- Shapes Christian ideas about humility, service, and incarnation.
- Has been debated in church history because of implications for Christ’s divinity and attributes.
Key text: Philippians 2:5–11.
The Seven Spirits of God — The Flame of the Menorah
The menorah was a seven-branched lamp used in the Jewish temple. Its seven flames help us understand the “seven spirits of God” mentioned in the Bible. These seven describe the full work of the Holy Spirit. They are not seven different spirits but seven ways one Spirit works.
What the seven mean (based on Isaiah 11:2–3)
- Spirit of the Lord: God’s own presence and authority.
- Spirit of Wisdom: The ability to use what we know in a good way.
- Spirit of Understanding: The ability to see what things really mean.
- Spirit of Counsel: Help and guidance when we must decide.
- Spirit of Might (Power): Strength to do what God asks.
- Spirit of Knowledge: Learning God’s truth and remembering it.
- Spirit of the Fear of the Lord: Respect and awe for God that shapes how we live.
Why the menorah helps us see this
- One light, many rays: The menorah has seven lights from one lampstand. The Holy Spirit is one, but shows Himself in many ways.
- Always burning: The menorah was kept lit all the time. The Spirit’s presence is meant to be with God’s people continually.
- Shows the way: The lights help people see. The Spirit gives wisdom, understanding, and guidance.
- Works together: Each flame adds to the whole light. The Spirit’s different gifts work together to help the church.
How this matters to us
- Want the whole Spirit, not just parts. Ask for wisdom, power, respect for God, and knowledge together.
- Keep respect for God central. “Fear of the Lord” keeps us humble and right.
- Use gifts together. The church is stronger when believers use different gifts for the same goal.
- Be changed inside and sent out. The Spirit shapes our hearts and gives power to serve others.
Isaiah 11:1–5 (KJV)
- And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
- And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
- And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.
- But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
- And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Revelation 1:4 (KJV)
- John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
- And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 4:5 (KJV)
- And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 5:6 (KJV)
- And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
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