1 Corinthians 12:2

On the critical reading, οἴδατε ὅτι ὅτε ἔθνη ἦτε … ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε ἀπαγόμενοι, there are two plausible constructions: (a) that of Bg [1815], Bm [1816] (pp. 383 f.), Ed [1817], who regard ὡς as a resumption of the ὅτι, after the parenthetical ὅτε clause, and thus translate: “You know that, when you were Gentiles, how you were always led to those voiceless idols, being carried away”. There are two reasons against this construction (1) the improbability of ὅτι being forgotten after so short an interruption; (2) the inversion of the proper relation between ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε and ἀπαγόμενοι, the former of which is naturally construed as subordinate and adverbial to the latter, the “leading to idols”supplying the condition under which the “carrying off” took place. (b) We are driven back upon the alternative construction, adopted by Est., Mr [1818], Hn [1819], Ev [1820], Bt [1821], Gd [1822], El [1823] (see his note, and Krüger's Sprachl., § 354 b, Anm. 1 f., for similar instances), who regard ἀπαγόμεμοι as chief predicate after ὅτι, and complete the ptp [1824] by ἦτε, which is mentally taken up from the interposed temporal clause: “You know that, when you were Gentiles, to those voiceless idols, however you might be led, (you were) carried away”. Since οἶδα with ptpl. complement occurs but once besides in N.T. (2 Corinthians 12:2, and there with acc. ptp [1825], not nom [1826] as here), the confusion between the ptpl [1827] construction and the ὅτι construction after οἶδα, by which Mr [1828] accounts for the grammatical irregularity, is not very probable. The emendation of W.H [1829] (see txtl. note) is most tempting, in view of Ephesians 2:11; it wholly obviates the difficulty of grammar: “You know that once (ὅτι ποτέ) you were Gentiles, carried off to those dumb idols, howsoever you might be led”. The Cor [1830], now belonging to the λαὸς Θεοῦ, distinguish themselves from the ἔθνη (see 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:20); to be “led away to the (worship of the) idols” is the characteristic of Gentiles (1 Corinthians 8:7). ἀπάγω implies force rather than charm in the ἀπάγων; P. is not thinking of any earlier truth from which the heathen were enticed, but of the overwhelming current by which they were “carried off” (abreptos, Bz [1831]), cf. 2Co 4:4, 2 Timothy 2:26; Matthew 12:29. With this agrees the qualifying ὡς ἂν ἤγεσθε (not ἀνήγεσθε, as Hf [1832] and Hn [1833] read; this gives an irrelevant sense “led up,” “led in sacrifice”), indicating the uncertainty and caprice of the directing powers “pro nutu ducentium” (Est.). For the right sort of ἄγεσθαι, see Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18. On the εἴδωλα, cf. 1 Corinthians 8:4; the voicelessness of the idol is part of its nothingness (cf. Psalms 115:4-7, etc.); the Pagans were led by no intelligent, conscious guidance, but by an occult power behind the idol (1 Corinthians 10:19 ff.).

[1815] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[1816] A. Buttmann's Grammar of the N.T. Greek (Eng. Trans., 1873).

[1817] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[1818] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[1819] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[1820] T. S. Evans in Speaker's Commentary.

[1821] J. A. Beet's St. Paul's Epp. to the Corinthians (1882).

[1822] F. Godet's Commentaire sur la prem. Ép. aux Corinthiens (Eng. Trans.).

[1823] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[1824] participle

[1825] participle

[1826] nominative case.

[1827] participial.

[1828] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[1829] Westcott and Hort's The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.

[1830] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[1831] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[1832] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[1833] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).