Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:2

ὅτε אABCDE Vulg. Omit FG Peshito. Origen reads ὅτε. Its omission after ὅτι is easily accounted for, especially as the omission improves the grammar.

2. ὅτι ὅτε … ἀπαγόμενοι. The sentence ends in an anacolouthon, if we adopt the reading in the text—‘that when ye were Gentiles being led away,’ &c. Anacoloutha similar, though not precisely identical, may be found in 2 Corinthians 9:10 (rec.); Colossians 2:2; Colossians 3:16. They may also be found in the best classical authors. Thus we have in Thuc. IV. 37 γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Κλέων καὶ Δημοσθένης ὅτι, εἰ καὶ ὁποσονοῦν μᾶλλον ἐνδώσουσι, διαφθαρησομένους αὐτοὺς (instead of διαφθαρήσονται). The omission of ὅτε, it may be remarked, would lead to the conclusion that the Corinthian Church was an exclusively Gentile community, which would contradict Acts 18:8; Acts 18:13, and possibly ch. 8 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 (where see notes).

τὰ εἴδωλα τὰ ἄφωνα. Literally, ‘unto the dumb idols.’ The word dumb (see note on next verse) draws attention to the contrast between the voiceless idol and the delusive utterances of its pretended priests or priestesses, as at Delphi, Dodona and elsewhere. Cf. for the expression Habakkuk 2:18-19. Also Psalms 115:5; Wis 13:17-19; Bar 6:8.

ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε. By those who pretended to give forth the utterance of the really voiceless idol.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 12:2

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