Kenosis: The Self‐Emptying of Christ in Scripture & Theology, Paul T.Nimmo and Keith L.Johnson (eds), Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Press, 2022 (ISBN 978‐0‐8028‐7920‐2), 344 pp., hb $65.00

Of the many sub-doctrines in the major theological locus of Christology, the one that garners either an excessive amount of attention (or none at all) is the doctrine of kenosis.Throughout the two millennia of the history of the church, the kenosis of Christ has gone through many developments as the church wrestles with how, why, and to what end the eternal Son of God 'emptied himself' in the event of the Incarnation.Furthermore, as human knowledge has increased and shifted-especially in the West-Christian theologians have had to reconsider, reformulate, and reengage with the kenosis of Christ to meet the inquiries, challenges, and opportunities that have confronted the church.To this end, theologians Paul Nimmo and Keith Johnson have assembled an outstanding group of theologians to provide essays that engage with the kenosis of Christ from biblical, historical, systematic and ethical perspectives.Although there are no major section breaks in the book, the sixteen chapters (along with an introduction and epilogue) are generally ordered thematically and historically.After the introduction, which is authored by the editors, Chapter One is a sustained argument by New Testament scholar John Barclay on how kenosis should be understood first and foremost soteriologically and not morally.Chapters Two and Three are also penned by New Testament scholars, Beverly Roberts Gaventa and Grant Macaskill, who see the theme of kenosis in the letters of Romans and then Colossians and Hebrews respectively.The last biblical themed chapter (Four) by Rinse Reeling Brouwer is on the divine name (i.e.YHWH) as a form of kenosis in both biblical testaments.The next six chapters look at various historical instantiations of how famous theologians have thought about kenosis over the centuries.Chapter Five is by John McGuckin on Origen of Alexandria's understanding of kenosis as pedagogical in his exegetical and systematic works.Chapter Six by Han-luen Kantzer Komline is on Augustine's view that kenosis is a revelation of the love of God in the humiliation of Christ.Chapter Seven is by Katherine Sonderegger on Cyril of Alexandria's understanding of kenosis as revealed at the crucifixion of Jesus.Chapter Eight moves into the medieval era with Dominican theologian Thomas Joseph White elucidating Thomas Aquinas' understanding of kenosis relative to the divine perfections.In Chapter Nine, Matthew Aragon Bruce discusses Martin Luther's view of kenosis as divine condescension, and in Chapter Ten, Paul Nimmo discusses the critique of the traditional doctrine of kenosis by Friedrich Schleiermacher and how Charles Hodge and Karl Barth responded to that critique.