Making Christ Real: The Peril and Promise of Kenosis

Kenosis, or self-emptying, poses a fundamental question to any theological discussion about Jesus Christ: "In becoming human, did God empty himself of any divine qualities?" Many variations on kenotic Christology have emerged over the past 200 years, most of them claiming to both preserve and highlight the true humanity and ecclesial significance of Jesus Christ.

While there is much to commend in these efforts, Samuel Youngs contends that nearly all such kenotic attempts have, against their ...