1 Corinthians 12:2

1 Corinthians 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
• New International Version (NIV)You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

Context of 1 Corinthians 12:2

1Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were led off after speechless idols; however you were led off [whether by impulse or habit]. 3Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers].

1 Corinthians 12:2 word by word

οἴδατε ὅτι ὅτε ἔθνη ἦτε πρὸς τὰ εἴδωλα τὰ ἄφωνα ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε ἀπαγόμενοι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ye knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ye wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• carried awayἄγωagō · to bringG71
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• theseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• dumbἄφωνοςaphōnos · muteG880
• idolsεἴδωλονeidōlon · idolG1497
• even asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• ·ἄνan · ifG302
• ye were ledἀπάγωapagō · to lead awayG520

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 12:2

• 1 Corinthians 6:11And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].
• Galatians 4:8But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all.
• Ephesians 2:11Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands—
• Ephesians 4:17So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls],
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
• 1 Peter 4:3For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do—living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries.
• Psalms 115:5They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;
• Psalms 135:16They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;
• Habakkuk 2:18“What profit is the carved image when its maker has formed it? It is only a cast image, and a teacher of lies. For its maker trusts in his own creation [as his god] When he makes speechless idols.
• Matthew 15:14Leave them alone; they are blind guides [leading blind followers]. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
• 1 Peter 1:18For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold,

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Ye were Gentiles - Previously to your conversion to the Christian faith; ye were heathens, carried away, not guided by reason or truth, but hurried by your passions into a senseless worship, the chief part of which was calculated only to excite and gratify animal propensities. Dumb idols - Though often supplicated, could never return an answer; so that not only the image could not speak, but the god or demon pretended to be represented by it could not…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Ye know … - This verse is regarded by many as a parenthesis. But it is not necessary to suppose that it is so, or that it does not cohere with that which follows. The design seems to be to remind them of their former miserable condition as idolaters, in order to make them more sensible of their advantages as Christians, and that they might be led more highly to appreciate their present condition. Paul often refers Christians to their former condition, to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2pagans: Non-Jewish people who do not follow a major religion.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Ep 2:11). that ye were--The best manuscripts read, "That WHEN ye were"; thus "ye were" must be supplied before "carried away"--Ye were blindly transported hither and thither at the will of your false guides. these dumb idols--Greek, "the idols which are dumb"; contrasted with the living God who "speaks" in the believer by His Spirit (1Co 12:3, &c.). This gives the reason why the Corinthians needed instruction as to spiritual gifts, namely, their past…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 12:2

• Gentiles
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Bond
• Covet
• Temper
• Apollos
• Church Government
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Corinth
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Dumb

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings