Self-Emptying Of Christ And The Christian [Hardcover]

This collection wrestles with a profusion of questions about kenosis. What is the original meaning and purpose of the self-emptying of Jesus? How can today's Christians emulate it, replacing our own selfish designs with the mind of Christ? How is the current interest in --servant leadership, -- as a model in the modern church, related to the self-sacrificing servant of Philippians 2? Does this practice have any meaning in our present secular age? Does it imply deconstructing the content of Christian faith and morals in contemporary culture? Is it a possible bridge between Eastern and Western spiritual traditions? Using the key theme of Jesus' emptying of himself in the Philippians hymn, John Lounibos explores the mysteries of kenosis in three strikingly different essays. The first, using extensive exegesis of the text, opens up the poetic, theological, and spiritual depths of this Christian mystery. The second essay establishes a philosophical grounding for kenosis in the work of Paul Tillich on the estrangements of finite human freedom. The third enters into dialogue with the Buddhist tradition and its intriguing notions of --nothingness-- and --no-self.-- The attentive reader will be rewarded with a wealth of information and insights for further reflection and personal application. --There is no text more critical for the church's self-understanding than Paul's hymn of Christ's kenosis in Philippians 2:5-11. In his Self-Emptying of Christ and the Christian, John Lounibos guides readers into the riches of this passage, repurposing and augmenting three previously written essays. What makes his work especially helpful and distinctive are its multiple interpretive horizons, including exegesis, theology, and interreligious reflection.-- -Richard B. Gardner Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Bethany Theological Seminary --After a long career of distinguished scholarship and teaching, John Lounibos has brought together three of his essays, all related to the scripturall“B