What do you think?
Rate this book
The Way of the Kenotic Christ: The Christology of Jurgen Moltmann
Despite his vast importance to twentieth-century theology, Jürgen Moltmann’s Christology has yet to receive the same level of in-depth exploration as other topics in his thought. Samuel Youngs addresses this lacuna, providing the first exhaustive analysis of Moltmann’s doctrine of Christ, including its key developments and controversial elements.
Youngs argues that Moltmann’s doctrine of Christ is best understood as a unique variation of kenotic Christology . This vision of Christ encapsulates not only a series of vibrant ethical and eschatological points, but also serves Moltmann’s overarching theological goal of empowering a church that lives and ministers “under the cross.”
Part I highlights key facets of Moltmann’s theological method before unfolding the range of diverse themes that characterize his Christology. Part II explores Moltmann’s use of the “kenosis hymn” of Philippians 2, before interrogating Moltmann’s relationship to christological tradition. Part III engages in an original systematization of Moltmann’s Christology, centered on the theme of manifold, relational kenosis.
Youngs argues that Moltmann’s doctrine of Christ is best understood as a unique variation of kenotic Christology . This vision of Christ encapsulates not only a series of vibrant ethical and eschatological points, but also serves Moltmann’s overarching theological goal of empowering a church that lives and ministers “under the cross.”
Part I highlights key facets of Moltmann’s theological method before unfolding the range of diverse themes that characterize his Christology. Part II explores Moltmann’s use of the “kenosis hymn” of Philippians 2, before interrogating Moltmann’s relationship to christological tradition. Part III engages in an original systematization of Moltmann’s Christology, centered on the theme of manifold, relational kenosis.
180 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
March 1, 2020
Yes, it’s a superb, integrated summary of the Christology of Moltmann, but it’s really a sustained reflection on the emptying (kenosis) of Christ.
Moltmann is notorious for not saying things the way we want him to say them - and our readings of him often tend toward “overstatement and idiosyncrasy.” Dr. Youngs helpfully weaves together the nuances of Moltmann’s Christology into a helpful tapestry, demonstrating a unique understanding of how God has clothed himself in our humanity in order that we might be clothed with Christ.
I am interested in Moltmann - admittedly more now - but I am more interested in what we can know about God and ourselves through the emptying of Christ, embodied in his life and pictured in Philippians 2.
To that end, Dr. Youngs masterfully helped me to see the emptying of Christ as revelatory of who God is, rather than simply something God did. The entire life of Christ reveals the nature of who God is and, given that we are to follow Him and become like him, it also reveals the nature of what our lives are becoming in him.
Moltmann is notorious for not saying things the way we want him to say them - and our readings of him often tend toward “overstatement and idiosyncrasy.” Dr. Youngs helpfully weaves together the nuances of Moltmann’s Christology into a helpful tapestry, demonstrating a unique understanding of how God has clothed himself in our humanity in order that we might be clothed with Christ.
I am interested in Moltmann - admittedly more now - but I am more interested in what we can know about God and ourselves through the emptying of Christ, embodied in his life and pictured in Philippians 2.
To that end, Dr. Youngs masterfully helped me to see the emptying of Christ as revelatory of who God is, rather than simply something God did. The entire life of Christ reveals the nature of who God is and, given that we are to follow Him and become like him, it also reveals the nature of what our lives are becoming in him.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review