Jesus emptied himself and became a servant

When Paul wrote that Jesus emptied himself and became a servant and yet he was God, in what ways did he retain or not retain his powers of being God?

The concept of “emptying” was a raging controversy in the nineteenth century, and elements of it remain today. The Greek word used by Paul in the second chapter of Philippians, kenosis, is translated as “emptying” in most Bible versions.

The question is, of what did Jesus, in his human (incarnate) state, empty himself?

The popular view in certain circles in the nineteenth century was that at the time of the Incarnation, the eternal God, the second person of the Trinity, laid aside—emptied himself of—his divine attributes so that he could become a man. And in becoming a man in the very real sense, he stopped being God. And so there is the transformation from deity to humanity because he set aside his omniscience, his omnipotence, his self-existence, and all of those other attributes that are proper to the nature of God.

There was one orthodox theologian during the middle of that controversy who said somewhat caustically that the only emptying that theory proved was the emptying of the minds of theologians who would teach such a thing as God stopping for one second to be God.

But the truth is ,if God laid aside one of his attributes, the immutable undergoes a mutation; the infinite suddenly stops being infinite; it would be the end of the universe. God cannot stop being God and still be God.

So we can’t talk properly of God laying aside his deity to take humanity upon himself. That is why orthodox Christianity has always declared that Jesus was verushomus, verus Deus—truly man, truly God; fully man and fully God.

His human nature was fully human, and his divine nature always and everywhere was fully divine.

Nevertheless, Christ emptied himself of something , when we look at the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians

Philippians 2:5-8

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,(Or slave)being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

I think the context of Philippians 2 makes it very clear that what he emptied himself of was not his deity, not his divine attributes, but his prerogatives—his glory and his privileges. He willingly cloaked his glory under the veil of this human nature that he took upon himself. It’s not that the divine nature stops being divine in order to become human. In the Transfiguration, for example Matt. 17:1-13), we see the invisible divine nature break through and become visible, and Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of his disciples. But for the most part, Jesus concealed that glory.

Matthew 17:1-13…Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.…Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials(Greek three tabernacles.)—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”… But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.… Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”… And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.… As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man“ (a title Jesus used for himself.)has been raised from the dead.”… Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes? “ (Greek that Elijah must come first?)… Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready.12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

I think Paul is saying in Philippians 2 that we’re to imitate a willingness to relinquish our own glory and our own privileges and prerogatives.