John Calvin 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)

As the execrations of the world. He uses two terms. The first signifies a man who, by public execrations, is devoted to cleansing a city. Because such persons cleanse the rest of the people by taking upon themselves all the crimes and heinous offenses in the city, the Greeks called them sometimes καθαρμοι, but more frequently καθάρματα.

Paul, in adding the preposition περὶ (around), seems to have had in mind the expiatory rite itself, because those unfortunate men who were devoted to execration were led round through the streets. This was so that they might carry away with them any evil lurking in any corner, ensuring the cleansing was more complete.

The plural number might seem to imply that he speaks not only of himself but also of his associates, who were equally despised by the Corinthians. There is, however, no compelling reason to regard what he says as extending beyond himself.

The other term — περίψημα, (offscouring) signifies filings or scrapings of any kind, and also the sweepings cleared away with a brush. Regarding both terms, consult the annotations of Budaeus.

As for the meaning of the passage before us, Paul, to express his extreme degradation, says that the whole world holds him in abomination, like a man set apart for expiation. He also says that, like offscourings, he is repulsive to everyone.

At the same time, he does not mean by the first comparison that he is wholly an expiatory victim for sins. He simply means that, in terms of disgrace and reproaches, he is no different from the man on whom the execrations of all are heaped up.