Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:13

"being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now." — 1 Corinthians 4:13 (ASV)

The filth of the world.—The word here used for “filth” occurs only in one other passage in the LXX (Proverbs 21:18), where it has the idea of an additional expiatory sacrifice. Perhaps the word is used here by the Apostle to include that idea in the sufferings, the description of which here reaches a climax. It is not only that we are the filth and offscouring of all men, but we are so for the sake of others.