What Jesus Didn’t Know: a Defense of Kenotic Christology

Does Jesus know everything? If so, why does he say he doesn’t know the hour of his second coming? Why is he described as growing in wisdom? On the other hand, if he doesn’t know everything, then is he still divine?The controversial doctrine of Kenotic Christology offers a simple solution to these questions by positing that Jesus voluntarily emptied himself of certain abilities and knowledge at the incarnation. However, critics have claimed this solution compromises the deity of Christ.Engaging, rigorous and rooted in Scripture, this work argues that Kenotic Christology not only upholds the divinity of Jesus but also provides the best lens for understanding depictions of his humanity. What Jesus Didn’t Know challenges readers to rethink divinity, omniscience, and the radical humility of Christ.