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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
7 days ago10 min read

How Can the Doctrine of Christ’s Humanity and Divinity Be Reconciled with the Limitation Theory?

The "limitation theory" attempts to undermine the apologetic defense of Jesus Christ's deity by proposing that Jesus was limited in His knowledge during His earthly ministry. The theory builds on two main pillars: Christ’s humanity and the kenosis theory, which asserts that Jesus "emptied" Himself of divine attributes such as omniscience when He became incarnate. This article will comprehensively address these claims by analyzing the nature of Jesus Christ, His divine authority, and His human limitations, and provide a biblical defense of the reliability of Jesus' teachings.



How Does the Humanity of Christ Relate to Knowledge?


The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus was fully human, sharing in the experiences and limitations common to humanity. Philippians 2:7 describes Jesus as having “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52), experienced fatigue (John 4:6), and was subject to hunger and thirst (Matthew 4:2; John 19:28). These details emphasize His genuine humanity.


However, some have argued that this human experience implies the possibility of human error, extending this idea to claim that Jesus could have been wrong about various things, including historical and theological matters. The proponents of this view question whether Jesus’ teachings on the Old Testament, the authority of Scripture, and other doctrinal matters were accurate or whether they reflected the limited understanding of a first-century Jewish rabbi.



Does the Kenosis Theory Support Christ's Ignorance?


The kenosis theory derives its name from the Greek word kenoō, meaning “to empty.” According to this interpretation of Philippians 2:7, Christ "emptied" Himself of certain divine attributes, particularly omniscience. Those who advocate for this theory claim that Jesus' ignorance about the timing of His return (Mark 13:32) and His lack of knowledge about the fig tree's condition (Mark 11:13) prove that His knowledge was limited during His earthly ministry. They argue that, like all humans, Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52) and had to ask questions (Mark 5:9, 30; John 11:34), which further supports the notion that He did not possess full divine knowledge while on earth.


The idea of kenosis as the “emptying” of divine attributes, however, is deeply flawed. Philippians 2:6-7 does not imply that Jesus ceased to be divine or laid aside His deity. Instead, the passage speaks of His humility in assuming human nature, not a forfeiting of divine qualities. As Philippians 2:6 affirms, Christ “was in the form of God,” meaning He retained His divine nature. The phrase “he emptied himself” refers to His voluntary humility in taking on the limitations of human existence, not a loss of His divine essence. John 1:14 confirms this by stating, “the Word became flesh,” indicating the addition of humanity, not the subtraction of deity.



Can Jesus Err or Sin?


To assert that Jesus could err is to undermine the doctrine of His sinlessness and the very nature of His person. The Bible is explicit in stating that Jesus was sinless. Hebrews 4:15 emphasizes this point: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” If Jesus had erred, this would imply imperfection, which would contradict the biblical claim of His sinlessness.


In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul states, “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus, being fully God and fully man, could not have sinned or erred, for that would violate the very nature of God. Habakkuk 1:13 declares that God’s “eyes are too pure to look on evil;” thus, for Jesus to have erred would mean attributing error to God Himself. Since Jesus is one with the Father (John 10:30) and is fully divine, any error or sin in Jesus would mean that God is capable of error, which is impossible.


Furthermore, if Jesus could have erred, His teachings would not carry divine authority, and our faith would be in jeopardy. However, the New Testament affirms that Jesus spoke with the authority of God. John 12:49-50 records Jesus saying, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” Jesus’ teachings were not His own human opinions but were divinely revealed truths from the Father.



What About Jesus’ Limitations in Knowledge?


While Jesus was fully divine, He also had a human nature that was finite and limited in knowledge. Jesus' humanity did not possess omniscience; therefore, He experienced genuine human ignorance in certain areas. This is evident in passages such as Mark 13:32, where Jesus says that only the Father knows the exact time of His second coming: “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”


However, it is important to understand that Jesus' human nature did not compromise His divine nature. The two natures of Christ—His humanity and divinity—are distinct but united in one person. In His human nature, Jesus could be ignorant of certain facts, but in His divine nature, He remained omniscient. This is the mystery of the Incarnation, where the infinite God took on finite human limitations while still retaining His divine attributes. As the Chalcedonian Creed (451 C.E.) asserts, Jesus is “one person in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.” This dual nature explains why Jesus could genuinely learn and grow in wisdom while still possessing divine knowledge.


Jesus' human limitations do not imply error or sin. His ignorance of certain matters was part of His voluntary submission to the Father’s will during His earthly ministry. The fact that Jesus did not know the time of His return does not diminish His divine authority or reliability in other matters. Instead, it highlights the reality of His genuine humanity, which is consistent with His role as the perfect mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).



Did Jesus Have Supernatural Knowledge?


Despite the limitations of His human nature, the Gospels provide numerous examples of Jesus displaying supernatural knowledge. His omniscient understanding was not something He consistently used but was selectively manifested when it served His divine mission. In John 1:48, for instance, Jesus knew that Nathaniel had been sitting under a fig tree even before meeting him. Nathaniel was astonished and immediately declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).


Another example is seen in John 4, where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. Without being told anything about her, Jesus revealed her entire life story, saying, “You have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband” (John 4:18). The woman recognized this as supernatural knowledge and testified to her townspeople, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did” (John 4:29).


Jesus also demonstrated knowledge of future events. In Mark 8:31, He predicted His suffering, death, and resurrection. In John 11:14, He knew of Lazarus' death before anyone informed Him. These instances of supernatural knowledge reveal that while Jesus experienced genuine human limitations, He also had access to divine knowledge that was beyond human capacity.



Did Jesus’ Teachings Possess Divine Authority?


One of the most compelling aspects of Jesus’ ministry was the authority with which He spoke. In Matthew 7:28-29, after Jesus finished delivering the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds were astonished because “he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” Jesus’ authority was not derived from human sources or rabbinical traditions; it was inherent in His divine identity.


Jesus’ words carried eternal significance. In Matthew 24:35, He declared, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” This is a clear affirmation of the divine permanence of His teachings, placing His words on the same level as Scripture itself. Jesus was not merely offering human opinions or speculations; He was delivering the very words of God.


Moreover, Jesus claimed to have received all authority from the Father. In Matthew 28:18, following His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This universal authority encompasses all aspects of life, both spiritual and physical. Jesus’ teachings are not limited to moral or spiritual issues; they extend to every area of existence because they come from the Creator of all things.


Jesus’ divine authority is further underscored by the fact that He accepted worship and acknowledged Himself as deity. In John 9:38, after healing a man born blind, the man worshiped Jesus, saying, “Lord, I believe.” Unlike the angels who refused worship (Revelation 19:10), Jesus accepted it because He was indeed God in the flesh.



Did Jesus Teach the Reliability of the Old Testament?


One of the key arguments posed by proponents of the limitation theory is the suggestion that Jesus may have been ignorant of the origin and reliability of the Old Testament Scriptures. However, this view is directly contradicted by Jesus’ own statements regarding the authority of the Scriptures.


In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Jesus affirmed the absolute reliability of the Old Testament, down to the smallest letter and stroke. He viewed the Scriptures as divinely inspired and unalterable.


Jesus frequently cited the Old Testament as the authoritative Word of God. In John 10:35, He stated, “Scripture cannot be broken,” affirming the inerrancy and infallibility of the Scriptures. He used Old Testament passages to refute Satan’s temptations (Matthew 4:4-10), to answer theological challenges (Matthew 22:29-32), and to explain His mission (Luke 24:44-47). There is no indication that Jesus ever questioned the historical accuracy or divine origin of the Old Testament. On the contrary, He consistently upheld it as the Word of God.



How Does Christ’s Teaching Provide a Foundation for Christian Doctrine?


Jesus’ teachings form the bedrock of Christian doctrine. As the divine Son of God, His words carry ultimate authority. In John 8:31-32, Jesus told His disciples, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus’ teachings reveal the truth about God, salvation, and human existence, providing the foundation for all Christian belief and practice.


In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus emphasized the importance of building one’s life on His words, comparing it to a wise man who builds his house on a rock. When the storms of life come, those who have built their lives on the teachings of Christ will stand firm. This analogy highlights the permanence and reliability of Jesus’ teachings, which provide a sure foundation for both this life and eternity.


Furthermore, Jesus entrusted His disciples with the responsibility of teaching others to obey His commands. In Matthew 28:19-20, He commissioned them to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This Great Commission underscores the importance of Jesus’ teachings for the global mission of the Church. His words are not limited to a particular time or culture; they are universally relevant and authoritative.



Was There Any Error in Jesus' Teachings?


The question of whether Jesus could have been wrong in His teachings is a critical one. If Jesus taught any error, it would undermine the trustworthiness of His message and the Christian faith as a whole. However, the New Testament affirms that Jesus’ teachings were without error.


In John 8:46, Jesus challenged His opponents, saying, “Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” Jesus’ claim to sinlessness extends not only to moral purity but also to the truthfulness of His teachings. He always spoke the truth because He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).


Additionally, John 12:49-50 reveals that Jesus’ teachings came directly from the Father: “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” Since Jesus’ teachings were divinely revealed, they were without error. Any suggestion that Jesus taught something false is incompatible with His divine identity and the biblical witness.



How Should Christians Respond to the Limitation Theory?


The limitation theory attempts to undermine the reliability of Jesus’ teachings by emphasizing His human limitations. However, this theory fails to account for the biblical truth that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. While He experienced genuine human limitations, He remained without sin and spoke with divine authority.


The New Testament provides ample evidence that Jesus possessed supernatural knowledge, upheld the authority of Scripture, and taught with divine authority. His teachings form the foundation of Christian doctrine, and any attempt to suggest that He erred in His teachings is a direct attack on His deity and the truthfulness of the gospel.


The best response to the limitation theory is to affirm the biblical witness to Christ’s sinlessness and divine authority. Hebrews 4:15 assures us that Jesus was tempted in every way but remained without sin. John 8:46 challenges anyone to convict Him of sin, and Matthew 24:35 declares that His words will never pass away. These passages testify to the perfect truthfulness of Jesus’ teachings and provide a firm foundation for Christian faith and apologetics.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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