1 Corinthians 12:2
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
- KJV
- Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
- WEB
- You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
- ASV
- Ye know that when ye were Gentiles [ye were] led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might led.
- DARBY
- Ye know that when ye were [of the] nations [ye were] led away to dumb idols, in whatever way ye might be led.
- BLB
- You⁺ know that when you⁺ were pagans, you⁺ were led even as to mute idols, being led astray.
- ÅB
- Dere vet at dengang da dere var hedninger, lot dere dere drage til de stumme avguder, alt etter som dere ble draget.
- OTB
- Dere vet at da dere var ikke-troende, ble dere villedet til de stumme avgudene, slik dere ble ledet.
- B1930
- I vet at dengang da I var hedninger, lot I eder drage til de stumme avguder, alt efter som I blev draget.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
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.
Read in context1 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
Read in contextPsalms 115:5
They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
Read in contextGalatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Read in contextEphesians 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)—
Read in context1 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.
Read in contextJeremiah 10:5
Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
Read in contextHabakkuk 2:18–19
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
Read in context