Kenosis

Kenosis is a Greek word for emptiness, which is used as a theological term.

As an ancient Greek word, κένωσις kénōsis means an "emptying", from κενός kenós "empty".

The word is mainly used, however, in a Christian theological context, for example Philippians 2:7, "[Jesus] made himself nothing (ἐκένωσε ekénōse) ..." (NIV) or "...he emptied himself..." (NRSV), using the verb form κενόω kenóō "to empty".

The kenotic ethic

The kenotic ethic is the ethic of Jesus, considered as the ethic of sacrifice.

Extreme definition

To sacrifice one's life.

Daily-use definition

In daily life and work kenosis is the balance between self-interest and the good of others.

Kenosis in literary aesthetics

Kenosis is the affect (feeling) experienced by the reader of lyric or poetry forms. It is the experience of the emptying of the ego-personality of the reader into the immediate sensory manipulation of poetics. In this sense, kenosis inflicts an experience of timelessness upon the reader. Compare with catharsis which is the affect created by drama and kairosis which is the affect created by novels.

Eastern Orthodox perspective

'Kenosis is the idea that God is self-emptying. He poured out himself to create the cosmos and the universe, and everything within it. Therefore, it is our duty to pour out ourselves. In so doing, we become deified like God.

External links

• http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2004/06/24_scienceandhope/
• George Ellis interview - from NPR