#3 Christology - Philippians 2

#3 CHRISTOLOGY - KENOSIS Philippians 2 PREVIOUS HOMEWORK 1. Read Philippians 2 and consider the Kenosis (emptying) of Christ in taking upon human esh. 2. Consider the Virgin Birth in rela on to His unfallen humanity. BIG 4 CHRISTOLOGICAL TEXTS 1. John 1 2. Philippians 2 3. Colossians 1-2 4. Hebrews 1 CONTEXT OF PHILIPPIANS 2 Unity Humility PHILIPPIANS 2 BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD “Form” (μόρφῆ) Compare Colossians 1:15 & Hebrews 1:3. Contrast “form of a servant” (2:7). Compare the Trans gura on (Mt 17; Mk 9; Lk 9). Compare John 17:5. THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD ESV “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” NASB “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,” NIV “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;” VERSE 7 “Emp ed” (κενόω, Kenosis) KENOSIS DISCUSSION: Of what did Jesus empty Himself? Did Jesus empty Himself of any of His a ributes? Did Jesus empty Himself of any por on of His Deity? VERSE 8 VERSES 9-11 Compare Romans 1:4 “Son of God in power.” See also Hebrews 1:2; Psalm 2. ti ti ti ti fi ti tt 1 ti fl Founda ons in Chris an Doctrine Founda ons in Chris an Doctrine TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER Compare 1 Corinthians 15:24-25. DISCUSS: Subordina on of the Son (See Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:30; Mk 14:36.) IMPLICATIONS OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH (VIRGINAL CONCEPTION) See handout, “Tracing the Virgin Birth.” 1. Jesus’ genuine (unfallen) humanity 2. Jesus’ Deity 3. Miraculous concep on (Lk 1:37) 4. No sin nature (Lk 1:35; cf. Ps 51:5) 5. Last Adam (Rom 5: 1 Cor 15). In the third century, Irenaeus argued that because Adam “had his substance from un lled and as yet virgin soil,” so did “He who is the Word, recapitula ng Adam in Himself, rightly receive a birth, enabling Him to gather up Adam [into Himself], from Mary, who was as yet a virgin.”1 KEY ISSUES 1. Preexistence (Crea on) 2. OT (Angel of YHWH, Messianic promises) 3. Hyposta c Union (Fully God, Fully Man) 4. Divinity (ALL Divine A ributes, Omnipresence, Omniscience while on earth, Subordina on, etc.) 5. Humanity (Genuine, unfallen humanity, Incarna on, nature of the Kenosis, Virgin Birth, perpetual humanity) 6. Nature of Jesus’ separa on from His Father (Ps 22; Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34) HOMEWORK 1. Read Luke 1:46-55 (the Song of Mary), adoring God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit for the miracle of the Virgin Birth and of the Incarna on. 2. Read Colossians 1-2 and consider its input regarding Christology. What do you think was the heresy against which Paul was wri ng? Jonathan Warren P. (Pagán), “Jesus’ Virgin Birth,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018). 1 ti ti ti ti ti ti tt ti ti ti ti ti ti ti 2