Kenosis

Christ "emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:7)

NPN1-01A - Augustine, Confessions of St. Augustine, Book 7, Ch.9, pt.14

The Confessions of St. Augustine

Bishop of Hippo

BOOKVIICHAPIX

CHAP. IX.--HE COMPARES THEDOCTRINE OF THE PLATONISTS CONCERNING THE LoUod WITH THE MUCH MORE EXCELLENT DOCTRINE OF CHRISTIANITY.

13. And Thou, willing first to show me how Thou "resistest the proud, but givesgrace "and by how great act of mercy Thou hadst pointed out to men the path of humility, in that Thy "Word was made flesh" and dwelt among men,--Thou procuredst for me, by the instrumentality of one inflated with most monstrous pride, i certain books of the Platonists,(6) translated from Greek into Latin.(7) And therein I read, not indeed in the same words, but to the selfsame effects enforced by many and divers reasons, that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." That which was made by Him is "life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not." And that the soul of man, though it "bears witness of the light,"(2) yet itself" is not that light; (8) but the Word of God, being God, is that true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (4) And that "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him,: and the world knew Him not." (6) But that: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. (8) But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to then: that believe on His name."(7) This I did not read there.

14. In like manner, I read there that God the Word was born not of flesh, nor of blood,: nor of the will of man, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God. But that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," I read not there. For I discovered in those books that it i was in many and divers ways said, that the Son was in the form of the Father, and "thought it not robbery to be equal with God," for that naturally He was the same substance. But that He emptied Himself, "and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him" from the dead, "and given Him a name above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; (9) those books have not. For that before all times, and above all times, Thy only-begotten Son remaineth unchangeably co-eternal with Thee; and that of" His fulness" souls receive,(10) that they may be blessed; and that by participation of the wisdom remaining in them they are renewed, that they may be wise, is there. But that "in due time Christ died for the ungodly," n and that Thou sparedst not Thine only Son, but deliveredst Him up for us all,(12) is not there. "Because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes;" xs that they "that labour and are heavy laden" might "come" unto Him and He might refresh them,(14) because He is "meek and lowly in heart."(15) "The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way;"(16) looking upon our humility and our distress, and forgiving all our sins.(17)But such as are puffed up with the elation of would-be sublimer learning, do not hear Him saying, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."(19)