What does it mean that Christ emptied himself?

Explanation:

The to empty verb occurs four other times in the New Testament, and all in Paul’s letters. When we consider how he uses the term in each context, we notice that he does so in a metaphorical sense.⁶ For example, in Romans 4:14, Paul says that if the adherents of the law are the inheritors, faith is empty. Of course, Paul does not mean that faith is emptied of some thing, but it is empty in the sense of being of no significance. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul explains that he was not sent to preach in eloquence, for then the cross of Christ would be emptied of its power. In other words, the cross would no longer be significant. Given that Paul uses the verb to empty in the metaphorical sense of lacking significance, we can see what it means that Christ emptied himself. He did so in the sense that although he was robed in the majesty of God, he made himself insignificant in order to serve others.⁷ Thus, while all glory was due Christ, he gave up his significance to serve.

Counterargument:

While it might be that to empty is sometimes used metaphorically, it can also be used literally. That is, it could be taken to mean that Christ emptied himself of his divinity, and thus took on a human nature.

Response to Counterargument:

Unfortunately, this argument is not strong for several reasons. First, it does not offer any literature or evidence to back up the notion that to empty can be taken literally in the sense of something being emptied of something else. Second, even if to empty can be taken in the sense of literally emptying something of something else, this is not normally how the verb is used by Paul. Third, the verb appears twice in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament (Jeremiah 14:2; Jeremiah 15:9), and on each occasion it is also used in a metaphorical sense. Finally, this view fails to explain how it is metaphysically possible for a being to be emptied of its essence and remain the same being. By all accounts, the essence of a being is what makes that being what it is. Thus, Christ would not be Christ without his essence. Thus, he does not empty himself of his divine essence, but takes on an additional human essence.

Explanation:

When Paul says that Christ emptied himself, we ought to take him metaphorically. That is, we ought to take it that Christ metaphorically emptied himself of his status and prestige in order to become incarnate and serve humanity. One indicator that we ought to take to empty metaphorically is to notice that Paul is using a wordplay that is connected back to Philippians 2:3.⁸ There he warns the Philippians not to do anything out of empty conceit. Interestingly, the term is composed of the Greek terms for empty and glory. Paul is calling the Philippians not to do anything out of empty glory. Then, in Philippians 2:7 he uses the verbal form of the noun empty to explain how the Philippians ought to behave. Instead of behaving in empty glory, they ought to behave like Christ, who emptied his glory in order to serve. Thus, the wordplay suggests that Paul uses the verb to empty in the metaphorical sense that Christ emptied himself of his glory.⁹

Counterargument:

That there is a subtle wordplay here does not mean that we ought to take the verb to empty metaphorically. For in Philippians 2:3, Paul does not mean that the Philippians should metaphorically reject empty glory. Rather, he literally means they should reject empty glory. Thus, the wordplay suggests that in the same way, Christ literally emptied himself and took on the form of a slave.

Response to counterargument:

We concede that Christ literally emptied himself. What is important to notice is that Christ did not empty himself of some thing. Rather, Christ was in a position of authority and status, but he literally lowered himself, that is, he literally emptied himself of his position and status in order to serve humanity. So it is the case that Christ literally emptied himself, as long as we understand that for Christ to empty himself is for Christ to lower himself.

Explanation:

Paul explains precisely what he means when he says that Christ emptied himself. That is, he explains it by following up this clause with two participial clauses that clarify his meaning. Specifically, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, and by being born in the likeness of man.¹⁰ Since the participles modify the verb to empty, they explain what it means that Christ emptied himself.¹¹ That is, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man. In other words, he emptied himself by standing in the highest possible position, robed in the glory of God, and then emptying himself of that status and glory in order to become incarnate and serve humanity.

Counterargument:

It could be that the object of the verb to empty is in the form of God. Thus, Paul is saying that although Christ was in the form of God, he emptied himself of his divinity. This reading would make sense of the notion that Christ was originally in the form of God, which he emptied himself of, in order to take on the form of a slave.

Response to counterargument:

The problem with this rendering is that it is prohibited by the grammatical construction of Philippians 2:7. For Philippians 2:7 opens with the strong adversative but, which indicates that Philippians 2:7 is separate from what precedes.¹² Thus, the verb to empty cannot refer back to in the form of God.

It is hard to see what the weakness of this view might be. One potential weakness is that it is not specific enough. That is, some might argue that the incarnation or Christ’s death on the cross is specifically how Christ emptied himself. Still, the general notion that Christ was robed in the glory of God and then became a human is general enough to capture what it means that Christ emptied himself, and it includes all aspects of the incarnation, including his death.

Explanation:

When Paul says that Christ emptied himself, he clarifies what he means by explaining that he took the form of a slave. The term slave implies that when Christ emptied himself, he took on a mission. So what mission did Christ take on and how does this help us understand what it means that he emptied himself? Interestingly, we know from Galatians 4:8–9 and Romans 8:15 that slavery has to do with being enslaved to the elemental spirits of this world.¹³ That is, in Galatians 4:8–9, Paul explains to the Galatians that when they did not know God, they were enslaved to gods, but now that they have become known by God they should not turn back to the elementary spirits. And, in Romans 8:15, Paul says that the Romans did not receive the spirit of slavery, to fall back into fear.

Thus, in Galatians 4:8–9 and Romans 8:15, Paul is explaining that without Christ, humans are enslaved by the elemental spirits. With this in mind, we can understand what Paul means when he says Christ emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Likely, what he means is that Christ emptied himself of his position of superiority, and subjected himself to these elemental spirits, just like any other human.¹⁴

Counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that we ought to give the immediate context weight when we consider the meaning of a passage. So although Paul discusses slavery to the elemental spirits in other passages, we first want to consider what Paul means that Christ took on the form of a slave based on the immediate context. What we find is that Paul uses Christ as the chief example to motivate the Philippians to consider others better than themselves (Philippians 2:3). That is, Paul is motivating them to have the same mindset as Christ and consider the needs of others (Philippians 2:4–5). We can deduce this because he warns the Philippians not to do anything out of selfishness, but to be humble and consider the needs of others (Philippians 2:3–4). He says to have this mindset, which is theirs in Christ, who emptied himself and took the form of a slave (Philippians 2:5–7). In other words, Paul’s point is not that Christ emptied himself to become a slave of the elemental spirits. Rather, he is saying that although Christ was in the highest position, he took the form of a slave to serve others, and the Philippians ought to do the same.

Explanation:

Paul reminds the Philippians that Jesus emptied himself by becoming a slave (Philippians 2:7). He then explains that Christ humbled himself even to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Emptying himself refers to Christ becoming a slave to the elementary spirits of this world. We can deduce this because we know from Galatians 3:10 that everyone who is under the law is under a curse, but that Christ became a curse for us because he was hung on the cross (Philippians 3:13). Further, we know from Colossians 2:15 that by nailing our debt to the cross, Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities by triumphing over them. In other words, by emptying himself Christ enslaved himself to the elemental spirits, and by his obedience unto death, he became a curse for us and conquered those spirits.

Counterargument:

While Paul certainly does hold that Christ put himself under the law, and was hung on the cross, in order to carry the curses of sin, this does not seem to be on his mind in Philippians 2:7. Rather, what he is getting at is that the Philippians should forget about their social status and serve one another. He then uses Christ as the chief example of one who held the highest possible position, and yet emptied himself to serve others. Thus, while Paul explains in other passages that Christ took on the curse of sin and nailed it to the cross, this is not what Paul is explaining in Philippians 2:7.

The weakness of this view is that it imports theological notions from other passages onto Philippians 2:7when such notions do not seem to be on Paul’s mind. Paul is encouraging the Philippians to have the same attitude as Christ, who took on the form of a slave. Thus, it must be possible for the Philippians to mimic Christ’s actions in order for his encouragement to make sense. Thus, Paul is not calling the Philippians to enslave themselves to the elemental spirits, but to serve one another.