As Gerald O’Collins has recently observed, much contemporary bibliology has left the theme of inspiration “out in the cold.” Indeed, across dogmatic treatments of scripture’s unique qualities, one is hard-pressed to find detailed treatment of either the history of the idea of inspiration or constructive theological reflection on the mode and operation of inspiration. This paper makes the historical and critical suggestion that this paucity of attention to inspiration arises from a kind of doctrinal embarrassment, as the history of Christianity increasingly reveals many misunderstandings, disagreement, and abuses founded on the interpretation of allegedly “inspired” scripture. Thus, the difficult question arises: If the Bible is divinely inspired, why and how has it been so readily misused and abused throughout history? In response, this paper posits a “kenotic model” of divine inspiration, in which God’s submission to harm in the kenotic incarnation of the Son (Phil. 2:5-11) provides a lens for understanding scripture’s own subjection throughout history. Bringing abuse-informed thinking to bear on the longstanding notion of biblical accommodation, this kenotic model for inspiration takes radical account of both divine weakness (1 Cor. 1:25) and the stark fact of scripture’s misunderstanding and misuse throughout Christian history.