Peripsema

PERIPSEMA. This is a meer Greek 1 Cor. iv. 13. Περίψημα.Word. St. Paul makes use of it to shew, that himself and all Christians of that Time were considered by the Heathen, as the Offcast and Filth of the Earth. Tanquam purgamentum hujus mundi facti sumus, omnium peripsema usque adhuc. The most learned Interpreters think,¹ that in this Place St. Paul alludes to a Custom then in Use among the Heathen, where they sometimes took Men, to make them serve as an Expiation for a City, or for a whole People, at the Time of a Pestilence, or other publick Calamity. This Custom is observed to have obtained among the Gauls, the Romans, and the Athenians. After having fed these unfortunate Victims for some Time at the publick Charge, they were brought forth upon the Day of their Death, with Rev. ii. 13. Garlands of Flowers or Leaves, to the Places they intended to expiate. The People there loaded them with Curses, and prayed the Gods to pour out all their Indignation upon them. Afterwards they threw them into the Sea, or whipped them to death, or burned them alive, and scattered their Ashes into the Sea, saying, Be thou our Suidas. Περίψημα ἡμῶν γένου.Victim or Expiation, to turn away the Anger of the Gods from us. So that one might thus translate the Text of St. Paul; They use us like human Victims, that are sacrificed for publick Crimes; as those miserable Wretches that are put to death, to atone for the Offences of others.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages