Camden Garrett’s Reviews > Philippians > Status Update

This section dealt with the debate over whether pistis Christou should generally be taken as an objective or subjective genitive. He prefers the traditional view (objective genitive) but lists many reasons why the subjective could also be possible.

Hellerman writes that Paul's primary purpose in the "Christ hymn" (better understood as an encomium or "speech of praise." Paul reverses the typical order from ascending to greatest honor to descending to greatest humility for Christ) is NOT ontological, expounding on the nature of Christ, but sociological, emphasizing the humiliation Christ brought upon Himself.