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 concerning spiritual gifts: brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. 3Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

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 some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
• Galatians 4:8But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.
• Ephesians 2:11So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands.
• Ephesians 4:17Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
• 1 Peter 4:3For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
• Psalms 115:5They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
• Psalms 135:16They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
• Habakkuk 2:18What use is a carved idol after its craftsman carves it? It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies. For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it and makes worthless idols that cannot speak.
• Matthew 15:14Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
• 1 Peter 1:18For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or 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