Kenosis
/kəˈnoʊ.sɪs/noun
The theological concept of Christ’s self-emptying or renunciation of divine privilege in becoming human.
Did you know?The term comes from Philippians 2:7, where Christ is described using the Greek verb kenóō, “to empty,” a passage that became central to Christian mystical and theological debates.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kenh₁-
“To be empty or lacking; a reconstructed root associated with emptiness.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κενός (kenós)
“Empty, void, or lacking.”
1st Century
Koine Greek
κενόω (kenóō)
“To empty, make void, or deprive of privileges.”
1st Century
Koine Greek
κένωσις (kénōsis)
“An emptying; specifically, Christ’s self-emptying in Philippians 2:7.”
19th Century
English
kenosis
“A theological term for Christ’s self-emptying, adopted from Greek theological vocabulary.”
Modern English
English
kenosis
“The doctrine or process of self-emptying, especially in Christian theology.”
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