Why was Paul defamed and made as the filth of the world?
Paul was defamed and made as the filth of the world because of what he was doing to promote the gospel. His gospel work brought opposition and contempt, yet he did not write these things to shame them or to claim that suffering indignities proves genuine belief.
Les explains that Paul was defamed and counted as the filth of the world because of what he was doing to promote the gospel. Les ties this to Paul's confrontation with the philosophers at Mars Hill in Athens, who called him a babbler, but Les says the reality was reversed: Paul had the words of life and wisdom, while the philosophers had nothing but babble. Les also clarifies that Paul did not write these things to shame the believers, nor was he saying that unless they suffered as he had, they were not really believers. Les rejects the idea that suffering indignities proves genuine faith, saying we do not have to suffer such things just to prove we are Christians. He illustrates with a young pastor who was seemingly persecuted by the community, but Les asked whether the pastor might be promoting it through his own attitudes.
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.