1 Corinthians 12:2

That. The sense of this verse seems clearer in the RV, which reads, “that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led.”

Gentiles. Gr. ethne. This term was used to designate all who were not Jews, but it also has acquired the meaning, “heathen,” in Christian thinking. That seems to be the significance it has here. The idea is that the Corinthians had been pagans, worshipers of idols, without any knowledge of the true God, and given over to idolatrous superstitions. The powers that were leading them astray were the powers of darkness, those evil spirits that were represented by the false gods they had worshiped (see ch. 10:20). If they only realized the advantages that had come to them since they accepted Christianity, they would appreciate their present condition as followers of Christ. This reference to their former heathen state is used by Paul in other places to stimulate Christians to be grateful for the mercies shown to them by God through the gospel (see Rom. 6:17; Eph. 2:11, 12; Titus 3:3).

Carried away. This expression shows that they were not able to control themselves, they were irresistibly drawn to the worship of idols by a power outside of themselves — a power that no doubt worked upon their passions and appetites to delude them into the belief that they were receiving benefits from their idolatrous observances, while in reality they were being drained thereby.

Dumb. The idols to whose altars and temples they were drawn, whether to worship, sacrifice, or consult, are called voiceless, or “dumb,” in contrast with the living God, who has revealed Himself in His Word, and who imparts to His followers spiritual gifts that enable them to speak in His name. The Lord often draws attention to this voicelessness of the false gods of the heathen as an argument against the folly of worshiping them (Ps. 115:4, 5; 135:15-17; Hab. 2:18, 19). Any supernatural manifestations or utterances came, therefore, from demon powers and not from the idols or the gods represented thereby.