Philippians 2:7

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This article examines William Branham's interpretation of the concept of "kenosis" as found in Philippians 2:7.

What the Bible says

Philippians 2:5-8 reads as follows in the KJV:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, 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.

The Greek verb "ἐκένωσεν" (ekenosen) is derived from the root word "κενόω" (kenoo) and means "to empty". The KJV is therefore not correct in its interpretation. The proper translation is seen in the ESV:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

And also in the NASB:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

What does "to empty" mean

This passage teaches that Jesus Christ became a real human because he did not cling to his divinity. He was willing to “empty himself” in order to take upon himself “the form of a slave” and be “born in human likeness.” If Jesus Christ continued to use his divine attributes, as classical Christology holds, what did Jesus empty himself of?

Gregory A. Boyd and Paul R. Eddy, Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009), 119.

How William Branham interpreted it

William Branham referred to Philippians 2:7 and understood the basic meaning of "κενόω":

Now, when It said here that He emptied Himself, or poured out, now, we would think like this, that He “vomit up,” the English word of emptied, or poured out from Him, see, something went out of Him that was different from Him. But the word kenos, in the Greek, does not mean that He “vomit up,” or some…His arm went off, or His eye went out, another person.

That is, He changed Himself, He “poured Himself into,” (Amen!), into another mask, into another form. Not another person went out of Him, called the Holy Spirit, but It was He Himself. You get it? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] He Himself poured Himself into the people. “Christ in you!” How beautiful, how wonderful, to think, God pouring Himself into the human being, into the believer. “Pour out!” It was a part of His drama, to do so. God, all the fullness, all the Godhead bodily was in this Person, Jesus Christ. He was God, and God alone. Not a third person or a second person, or a first person; but the Person, God veiled in human flesh.

...Notice, all the Glory that is in God is in the Word. All the blessings that’s in God is in the Word. It’s hid, to the unbeliever, by traditions. See what I mean? But It’s all in Christ. All that God was, He emptied Himself, “kenos,” and came into Christ; and we, into Christ, are behind the veil.

“Well, I’m into Christ,” you say. And then believe there is three Gods? Baptize in the name of “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”? Believe in all these traditions and things that you believe in, of the elders? No, you’re still behind the veil. See? Come into the veil. He, Christ, is the Word.

In Joel 2:28, He promised, that, “In this last days there would be a latter rain poured out upon the people, in the last days.” I think the Greek word there is kenos, which means that He “emptied” Hisself out. Not in the way that we would say, like something was inside of somebody, that He emptied out. But, He poured Himself out.

...You’ll see the full value, and see the unveiled God come right in view. That, He’s just the same as He was when He fell on the Day of Pentecost, upon the people, when He kenos’ed Hisself, “emptied” right into It. That’s right.

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