Three Versions of Kenosis. On Moral and Philosophical Interpretations of Christ’s Self-humiliation

Abstract

The article explores various theological interpretations of the Gospel tale of the so-called “self-abasement of Christ” or “kenosis”. The author assumes that these interpretations rep­resent the main types of moral and philosophical views of life. He identifies three versions of kenosis: ascension, pervasion, and powerlessness. The first version assumes that the life of Christ was the process of perfecting, during which the conditions of earthly human life were overcome; the second version claims that Christ did not overcome the conditions of earthly existence, but showed how one can achieve the Kingdom of Heaven within its limits; the third regards kenosis as a tale that reveals the powerlessness of God in the face of the world He created. These three versions of kenosis correspond to three types of moral and philosophical attitudes toward life. The first approach can be called “futuristic”: the world must necessarily become better than it is now. The second approach is defined as “instant”: one cannot amend the world, but can always find freedom and self-sufficiency within it. The third approach is “replenishing”: the history of mankind is devoid of any up­ward direction, but is subject to some of our volitional efforts, which can be either con­structive, i.e. changing existing norms and values according to the circumstances, or de­structive, i.e. aimed at violence and destruction. The last one – as well as the dichotomy in­herent to it – is, of course, the most relevant for the modern secularized world.