Kenosis of the cross in the theological thought of Hans Urs von Balthasar

Abstract

Hans Urs von Balthasar shows the theology of the cross as an event from God (kenosis), which has to be understood as a revelation of the entire Trinity. Triune drama that presents itself in differentiating between divine hypostases and their inter-triune surrender to the power of divine exiting (pre-kenosis), is a condition for the possibility of the theo-drama of the world, that is, the kenosis of the Son on the cross. Because of this difference that is also the co-relation between the timeless process of hypostases in God and the process of the world in which Jesus as the Representative takes on himself all human sins, thus himself becoming the »Sinner«. The Trinity in the event of the cross manifests continuous pain and dying in God himself. And precisely because pain and death are present within Him, as a liquid form of love, he can conquer death and pain after his death and resurrection... Pain and death are not overcome through some eternal immutability of his Being, but because they are an eternal expression of his Glory...