Bill Taylor wrote: >> The Son did not become less than God >> in his service to humanity
David Miller wrote: >> 1. Yeshua, in his earthly service to humanity, >> was made a little lower than the angels. >> 2. Yeshua said his father was greater than he was. >> Do such facts have any relevance in discussing the >> notion of equality with God? Bill Taylor wrote: > I fail to see how this statement needs to be handled > or understood in a light different than that of the > kenosis of Phi 2.5-11. ... > rather than parse my thoughts into oblivion, > how about a definitive statement from you on > your own teaching on these matters? That, it > seems to me, would give us all a comparative > basis upon which to draw. God bless you. > I will be eagerly awaiting your presentation. ----------------- ke�no�sis noun partial relinquishing of divinity: according to Christian belief, Jesus Christ's act of partially giving up his divine status in order to become a man, as recorded in Philippians 2: 6-7 [Late 19th century. From Greek kenosis "an emptying," from the phrase in Philippians 2:7 heauton ekenose "emptied himself."] Microsoft� Encarta� Reference Library 2005. � 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. --------------------- I don't think I have it all figured out, Bill, and I am certainly not as good a writer as you are. Nevertheless, following are some thoughts I have which perhaps explain how I view the kenosis. I perceive that in the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God. The Logos did not perceive equality with God something to be held onto, but rather he emptied himself, and took the form of a servant, being born of a woman by the power of the Holy Spirit, not just a son of a woman, but was born the son of God by his miraculous mighty power. At this point he took upon himself some other names. The Logos became known as the Son of man. The Son of God. Emmanuel. Yeshua. Jesus. Messiah. Christ. The Cornerstone. The Lamb of God. Apostle of God. High Priest of God. Previously he was unknown by these names, but he now took upon himself a new function which brought upon him new names and new titles. In becoming the man we know as Yeshua, the Logos relinquished some of his glory that he had with Yahweh. He did not relinquish any of his divinity. Who he was had not changed. Rather, he set aside the power and glory which he had in the beginning. He took upon himself the flesh of man and became a servant, being made lower than the angels. There are some ways in which he is equal to the father. He takes the father's name and inherits all that is the father's. There are other ways in which he is not equal to the father. This is why he said that the father is greater than he is. On the earth in human flesh, he did not have the glory and power that the father had. So he was not equal in this way. He was not omniscient, which is why he prayed so much and inquired of others, and he was not omnipotent, which is why he said he could have called angels to deliver him from the crucifixion instead of saying that he could have just used his powers as God to escape them. So becoming the son was a humbling experience. The role of son is to represent God to a world in darkness, and to submit unto the death of a cross when the world which was made by him rejected him. This was the specific role of the son of God. And now he is resurrected and glorified with the glory which he had with the father in the beginning. We will always remember his role as the son, but as he rules upon the throne of David, he will be better known in our hearts as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Everlasting Father. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
