1 Corinthians 12:2 BSB

1 Corinthians 12:2

You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led.

KJV

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

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Commentary

3 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Ye know that ye were Gentiles,.... That is, by religion; hence the Syriac version renders it חנפא, "profane" persons, given up to wickedness, bigotry, and superstition; for by nation they were Gentiles still; and which must be understood of one part of this church only; for some of them were Jews, as is clear from many passages in the epistle to this church, and practices referred to.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Ye 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 speak: a full proof that an idol was nothing in the world.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

This gives the reason why the Corinthians needed instruction as to spiritual gifts, namely, their past heathen state, wherein they had no experience of intelligent spiritual powers. When blind, ye went to the dumb. as ye were led--The Greek is, rather, "as ye might (happen to) be led," namely, on different occasions.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
οἴδατε	oidate	You know
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
ὅτε	hote	when	G3753 →
ἔθνη	ethnē	pagans	G1484 →
ἦτε	ēte	you were	G1510 →
πρὸς	pros	to	G4314 →
τὰ	ta	<the>	G3588 →
εἴδωλα	eidōla	idols	G1497 →
τὰ	ta	<the>	G3588 →
ἄφωνα	aphōna	mute	G880 →
ὡς	hōs	even as	G5613 →
ἂν	an	maybe	G302 →
ἤγεσθε	ēgesthe	you were led	G71 →
ἀπαγόμενοι.	apagomenoi	being carried away.	G520 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 4:5
  not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 6:11
  And that is what some of you were. 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.
- Ephesians 5:18
  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
- 1 Peter 1:14
  As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
Through
1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:10
  To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
Through
Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 8:4
  So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
- Ephesians 2:11–12
  Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9
  For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God