Novatian's exegesis of Philippians 2:6-11 becomes a key to his understanding of Christ and the Trinity, as well as his hermeneutical lens for reading the rest of Paul. His exegesis of this passage proves both a human and a divine nature of Jesus Christ. Christ is eternally pre-existent and consubstantial with the Father in divinity, but also distinct from the Father. In incarnation Christ has temporarily set aside certain divine attributes, while his incarnation is also a voluntary descent into true human existence. For Novatian, this passage is important in allowing the church to understand the balance between unity and difference in the relationship between the Father and the Son. This interpretation of his was accepted by the Church and gradually developed into an orthodox kenosis Christology.