1 Corinthians 4:13 kjv
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1 Corinthians 4:13 nkjv
being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
1 Corinthians 4:13 niv
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 esv
when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
1 Corinthians 4:13 nlt
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.
1 Corinthians 4 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 4:13 | You were being treated as the refuse of the world... | Paul's description of apostles' suffering |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Exhortation to humility |
| Phil 3:8 | Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | Paul's revaluation of worldly gain as loss |
| 2 Cor 4:8 | We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not destroyed; | Description of apostles' afflictions |
| 2 Cor 11:23-28 | Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—in labor and immeasurably in prisons, far more in beatings, often near death. | Paul lists his sufferings for Christ |
| Gal 6:17 | From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. | Paul bears suffering as marks of Christ's ownership |
| Matt 5:10-12 | Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. | Jesus' beatitudes on persecution |
| John 15:18-19 | If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. | Jesus predicts worldly hatred |
| Acts 17:18 | Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities.” This was because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. | Paul's reception in Athens |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | The cross as foolishness to the world |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. | Spiritual truths rejected by the unspiritual |
| Ps 22:6 | but I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. | A Messianic psalm describing Christ's suffering |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. | Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering Servant |
| Heb 12:2 | looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the God. | Jesus enduring the cross and its shame |
| Eph 3:13 | So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. | Suffering for the sake of others' glory |
| Col 1:24 | Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, | Paul rejoicing in suffering for the church |
| Rom 8:35-39 | Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction, or distress, or persecution...? | Nothing can separate believers from God's love |
| Titus 1:7 | For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach... | A qualification for church leaders, contrasting with the apostles' reception |
| 1 Peter 4:12-14 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that is to come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings... | Encouragement to rejoice in suffering |
1 Corinthians 4 verses
1 Corinthians 4 13 Meaning
In 1 Corinthians 4:13, Paul describes the apostles, including himself, as being treated as "the refuse of the world, the scum of all things." This signifies their deliberate humility and willingness to suffer hardship for the sake of the Gospel, contrasting with the Corinthians' pride and seeking of worldly status. It highlights the paradoxical nature of Christian ministry, where power is often found in weakness and honor in dishonor.
1 Corinthians 4 13 Context
This verse appears in the latter part of chapter 4 of 1 Corinthians, a chapter where Paul addresses the issue of spiritual authority and the conduct of apostles. He is responding to divisions within the Corinthian church, where factions had formed around favored teachers, including Apollos and even Paul himself. Paul seeks to correct their pride and their immature understanding of spiritual leadership, emphasizing that apostles are servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. He contrasts his own apostolic ministry with their lofty self-estimation, explaining that true ministry involves suffering and humility, not worldly prestige. This verse, in particular, serves as a powerful illustration of the harsh realities of proclaiming the Gospel in a hostile world, setting a pattern for those who follow Christ.
1 Corinthians 4 13 Word Analysis
"Eschato" (ἔσχατον): Meaning "last," "uttermost," or "final." In this context, it refers to being put last, relegated to the lowest position.
- Significance: This emphasizes a deliberate descent into insignificance in the eyes of the world.
- Connection: Echoes Jesus' teaching about the first becoming last and the last becoming first (Matt 19:30).
"Peripsēma" (περίψημμα): Meaning "scum," "dregs," "rubbish," or "refuse." It denotes the waste product or the very lowest element.
- Significance: A vivid and harsh term illustrating absolute worthlessness from a human perspective.
- Historical Context: This word was sometimes used in common parlance for refuse scraped from a surface or the leavings of a meal.
"Peripsēmatos" (περίψημματος): Genitive case of "peripsēma," indicating possession or association. "Scum of all things."
"Kosmos" (κόσμος): Meaning "world" or "order." Refers to the human society or the organized system of the world opposed to God.
- Significance: It highlights that their rejection was not merely by a few individuals but by the broader societal system.
"Hypomēnōmen" (ὑπομένομεν): Meaning "we endure," "we patiently await," or "we remain under."
- Significance: Conveys a steadfast perseverance despite suffering, a deliberate choice to continue bearing hardship.
"Deuro" (δεῦρο): An adverb of place meaning "hither" or "here." Used in this phrase "to this day" or "even until now."
- Significance: Indicates the ongoing nature of their suffering and public mistreatment.
"Hōs" (ὥς): A particle meaning "as," "like," or "in the manner of."
"Logizomai" (λογίζομαι): Meaning "to count," "to reckon," "to think," or "to estimate."
- Significance: This refers to the considered judgment or deliberate classification imposed upon them by the world.
Words Group Analysis
- "Eschaton tou kosmou, peripsēma pantōn" (ἔσχατον τοῦ κόσμου, περίψημμα πάντων): "The last of the world, the scum of all things."
- Significance: This phrase powerfully contrasts the divine evaluation of apostles with the world's. The world, in its wisdom and judgment, relegates them to the absolute lowest, the utterly despised. It’s a deliberate self-abasement in imitation of Christ, who himself was despised (Isa 53:3).
1 Corinthians 4 13 Bonus Section
The terms "refuse" and "scum" are strong indicators of social degradation. In ancient societies, discarded waste was literally thrown outside the city walls or into refuse heaps. By using such terms, Paul highlights the profound social alienation experienced by those who faithfully proclaimed the Christian message. This verse, along with others like 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, emphasizes that suffering and mistreatment were not exceptions but often the norm for the apostles. This aligns with the predictive teachings of Jesus regarding persecution for His followers (John 15:18-20). The ultimate example of being counted as "the scum of all things" is found in the crucifixion of Christ, where he was made a public spectacle and an object of utter scorn (Heb 12:2).
1 Corinthians 4 13 Commentary
Paul uses this intensely negative imagery to describe the apostles' public reception and their chosen stance. The Corinthian church, enamored with worldly wisdom and status, was likely treating their spiritual leaders with contempt, or perhaps Paul is painting a picture of the inherent hostility the Gospel ministry faces. The apostles, by contrast, embraced a role akin to sacrificial offerings or cast-off refuse, demonstrating that true spiritual authority does not rely on worldly validation. This humble suffering is presented not as a failure but as a mark of authenticity and faithfulness, aligning them with Christ who was also reviled and made an offering for sin. Their identity and worth are derived not from how the world sees them, but from their calling and relationship with God. This challenges the Corinthians to re-evaluate their values and understand that outward glory is secondary to inner transformation and adherence to Christ's example of self-emptying love and suffering.