THE ACCOMMODATION AND THE KENOSIS THEORY ATTEMPTS TO INVALIDATE SCRIPTURES AUTHORITY

2^nd - THE ACCOMMODATION THEORY:

"Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures" Matt. 22:29

 

-  Some think that our Lord thought the Scriptures contained many errors, but because the people to whom He spoke believed otherwise, He accommodated His teaching to their mistaken ideas in order not to offend. This makes Christ a sinner and not a Savior.

-  Answer:
1. Such a theory destroys the moral character of Christ. This reduces Him to the level of a fourth rate politician. This being true, one could not trust Him on any subject.
2. He corrected errors of His hearers instead of acquiescing in them. "Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures" (Matt. 22:29). He condemned this very practice (Mark 7:9-13) "You nicely set aside the commandment of God to keep your own tradition." No  concern to care for their own father and mother who needed help.
3. Consider His attitude toward Scripture in the Temptation! There were no crowds there to impress. But He used Scripture to thwart the accommodation method of the Devil.

3rd - THE KENOSIS THEORY:
- Explanation:

Takes name from Greek verb in Phil. 2:7.
"Made himself of no reputation" (KJV). "He emptied himself"
Contends that by this act Christ emptied self of omniscience, thus becoming liable to error during days of flesh.
Alleges support in such texts as Luke 2:52; Mark 13:32
Luke 2:52 "grew in wisdom."
Mark 13:32 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the son, but the Father."
They say He must have given up His omniscience, but if you know something, then try to unknow it. But He limited Himself at this point and only God can do that.

- Answer:

We must admit a real Kenosis involving some kind of self-imposed limitation. But not Docetism.

Limited knowledge does not necessarily involve the teaching of error. And since He did not know the day of His coming, He did not try to set the date of it.

Christ claimed infallibility for all His own utterances while here on earth.
John 8:26-29, 45-46 "I do nothing of myself." This is the proof of Deity. We can do things against God.

He was infallible because the Father taught Him. Vs. 45-46 "Convicteth me of sin." Context shows the sin would be untruth.
Luke 9:26 "Ashamed of me and my words."

The Kenosis, rightly understood, becomes a guarantee of His infallibility while on earth. (Read Moule on Phil. 2:5-8. This is a great discussion.)

John 12:48-49 A perfect Servant must render a perfect service.
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak."
Christ's Testimony Remains Unchanged after Kenosis is Past.
He Speaks with the Same Certain Voice.
Luke 24:25-27, 44-45

"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"

Rev. 2:14, 20, 27, 3:7, 22:16

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

"And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."This claim would not mean anything if the Old Testament were not true.

Conclusion To Christ's Testimony to the Scriptures

Christ's testimony supports the most absolute doctrine of Inspiration.
This testimony cannot be invalidated without logically putting a question mark after all recorded history.