- who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:6-8
The term emptied (kenóō) means to divest oneself of something. Some have claimed that Christ emptied Himself of His deity. Others claim that He exchanged His deity for humanity. However, Scripture states that in Christ, “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (cf. Colossians 2:9).”
Christ’s self-emptying was a divesting Himself of His privileges. First, He divested Himself of His heavenly glory.
- Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. - John 17:5
Second, Christ divested Himself of His authority.
- I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. - John 5:30
Third, He divested Himself of His eternal riches.
- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9
Fourth, Christ divested Himself of His relationship with the Father.
- About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? - Matthew 27:46