Kenosis

Christ "emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:7)

NPN1-07H - Augustine, The Gospel of John, Tractate 67, Chapter 14:1-3, pt. 1

TRACTATE 67, Chapter 14: 1-3.

Our special attention, brethren, must be earnestly turned to God, in order that we may be able to obtain some intelligent apprehension of the words of the holy Gospel, which have just been ringing in our ears. For the Lord Jesus saith: "Let not your heart be troubled. Believe (1) in God, and believe [or, believe also] in me." That they might not as men be afraid of death, and so be troubled, He comforts them by affirming Himself also to be God. "Believe," He says, "in God, believe also in me." For it follows as a consequence, that if ye believe in God, ye ought to believe also in me: which were no consequence if Christ were not God. "Believe in God, and believe in" Him, who, by nature and not by robbery, is equal with God; for He emptied Himself; not, however, by losing the form of God, but by taking the form of a servant. (2) You are afraid of death as regards this servant form, "let not your heart be troubled," the form of God will raise it again.