Divine Humanity - in defence of Kenosis

A while since I wrote a post in the category Confessions of a Bibliophile. And this is a seriously embarrassing confession. David Brown's book on kenotic Christology has just been published. The price is outrageous, and email correspondence with SCM merely confirms that as an academic book with a limited market it has to be fixed at a viable price. no apology, no compromise, no sympathy. So. No guessing games. The paperback copy of 273 pages cost £50. That's 5.5p per page.

If you are regularly around this blog you'll know my interest in Trinitarian kenosis and kenotic Christology. To buy this book you need a kenotic wallet, self-emptying! I'm not sure what response to make when a publisher produces a book that has this kind of price tag. I understand the need to be competitive. I recognise that academic books have a smaller circulation and thus a narrower margin for profit. I also acknowledge the quality and importance of good academic theology being published and flowing out into wider peer discussion. But the price has got to be affordable, the book accessible, and have some sense of value for money - I don't mean cheap, I mean fair.

So my wallet has self emptied, and I've already used a large gulp of the book allowance. That said - this is an important book, an elegantly written and openly positive defence of kenotic Christology. Nearly half way through it and have enjoyed the careful clearing of the ground through context, historical theology and constructive proposals. What is most impressive is that in defending Kenosis as a viable theological category in Christology and Trinitarian theology, Brown doesn't overstate the case or overlook the theological difficulties with kenotic theology - but neither does he gloss over the theological difficulties and serious questions raised by the Nicean and Chalcedonian definitions. The orthodox position is not itself so rooted in biblical categories and exegetical foundations that it avoids serious questions of adequacy and sufficiency as a Christological definition persuasive to contemporary minds.

One of Brown's major contentions is that a kenotic trajectory is not dependent on the classic text of Philippians 2.5-11. The Synoptic Gospels in narrative drive and plot portray Jesus in terms that are not incongruent with a kenotic motif. Once I've read it all, and thought some more, I'll post again.

Another research interest is the hymns of Charles Wesley, whom brown quotes - and here the kenotic imagery is made to bear the full Christological weight:

Emptied of His majesty,

Of His dazzling glories shorn,

Being's source begins to be

And God Himself is born!

Theological adventurousness is not inimical to Evangelical orthodoxy, it seems.

Comments

[Jason Goroncy]

Ouch on the price! But I look forward to reading some more Gordon on Brown on Jesus. BTW: does PTF get a look in?

[Jason Goroncy]

Also Jim, is this book any different from Brown's 'Divine Humanity: Kenosis and the Construction of a Christian Theology' (Baylor UP, 2011) which Amazon Canada has for CDN$ 24.52 ... and that's for the hardback! (I do hope this is not distressing news.)

[Andy Goodliff]

Jim, next time there is a book you want ask SCM for a review copy. You are a widely read blog, a good theologian and you are giving them good publicity for their book/s. If you're not happy doing this, let me know, and I'll get you copy and you can review for Regent's Reviews.