1 Corinthians 4:13

13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

1 Corinthians 4:13 in Other Translations

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

13 When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better.

13 when we are slandered, we entreat. We are, even now, like the world's garbage, like the filth of all things.

1 Corinthians 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 4:13

Being defamed, we entreat
Being blasphemed, as the word signifies, being evil spoken of, our good name taken away, and characters hurt; we entreat or pray to God for them, that he would convince them of their evil, give them repentance unto life, and remission of their sins, according to Christ's direction, ( Matthew 5:44 ) and in imitation of his example, ( Luke 23:34 ) or we entreat them; so the Syriac version reads it, (Nwhnm Nnyeb) , "we beseech them": not to blaspheme and speak evil of us, since it will be to their own hurt; we give them smooth words, and soft language, not rendering railing for railing, or reviling for reviling:

we are made as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all
things unto this day;
referring, as some think, to ( Lamentations 3:45 ) or to the lustrations and expiations among the Heathens, who when any calamity was upon them, particularly a plague among them, used to take one of the refuse of the people, and sacrifice him by way of expiation; or any living creature, as a sheep which with imprecations they cast into a river, or into the sea, fancying it carried away all the contagion along with it; hence, by way of reproach, such that were under disgrace, and were ejected, and exiled, were called (kayarmata) , "purgations"; the refuse of the people, by which the rest were purged ^F21 or the reference is to any dirt, or filth in common, swept out of houses, and trodden under foot; and so expresses the mean and abject condition of the apostles, and with what disdain and contempt they were treated in the world: all which shows that they were far from reigning as kings; and whilst this was their case, who were at the head of the interest of Christ, it must be a vain conceit of the Corinthians, that they reigned as kings without them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Vid. Turnebi Adversaria, l. 19. c. 22. & 26. 7. & 27. 16.

1 Corinthians 4:13 In-Context

11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.

15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 20:18; Lamentations 3:45