01. Spiritual Things (1 Corinthians 12:1)
• Now is δέ (ĕ), a conjunction used by Paul to show he is continuing from 1 Cor 11.
• concerning is περί (ĕri), meaning around, and when paired with a genitive (spiritual gifts), means regarding the objective of the author.
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• spiritual gifts is πνευματικός (ĕumatikŏs), from πνεῦμα (ĕuma), and means *breath or spirit*. Thus, πνευματικός (ĕumatikŏs) means those things concerning the Spirit (1 Cor 2:13 (2x), 2:15; 3:1; 9:11; 10:3--4). Never did Paul use this previously to describe spiritual gifts.
• Notice that the word* gifts* is in italics because that was added by the KJV translators. This was probably done because of the word of gifts in 1 Cor 12:4.
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• (YLT) And concerning the spiritual things
• What spiritual things is Paul talking about? Well, we saw him write about how a woman is to have her head covered in the local assembly (1 Cor 11:3-15), and how to conduct oneself at the Agape Feasts and in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:16-34).
• Paul is talking about how to handle spiritual things in the local assembly, not spiritual gifts as many will proclaim today. Regarding spiritual gifts will come when we get to 1 Cor 12:4.
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• ignorant** is ἀγνοέω (ŏĕō), (a-, *not*ús, the mind), meaning to be ignorant. Paul uses this 6x in Scripture (Rom 1:13; 11:25; 1 Cor 10:1; 12:1; 2 Cor 1:8; 1 Thess 4:13).
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02. Easily Influenced (1 Corinthians 12:2)
• Ye know** is εἴδω (ĕidō) usually translated as *to see*. This Greek verb is subjective and insinuates the fullness of knowledge, a mental concentration, or focus. There is another Greek verb that is translated as to know, which is γινώσκω (ōskō), and means to know intimately, to know by experience. We see these contrasted in John 8:55 and Hebrews 8:11.
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• Paul is saying here, you all realize and understand by observation that ye were Gentiles.
• Gentiles** is ἔθνος (ĕthnŏs), meaning ethnic groups, whether they be Jewish or Gentile. The noun Gentile was not around at the time of Jesus, for it didn't appear until about 1400.
• The word Gentile came from the Hebrew word גּוֹי (ôwy), which is usually translated as nation or nations, along with Gentiles and heathen in the Hebrew Scriptures (558x in 508vss).
• Anytime the Greek Scriptures use the word ἔθνος (ĕthnŏs), we need to be circumspect and look in context who this is written about.
• The Scriptures use the word ἔθνος (ĕthnŏs) carefully, always clarifying when the word signifies those who are not of Israel by referring to them as the uncircumcision or otherwise contrasting them to the Jewish people.
• There are some occurrences that ἔθνος (ĕthnŏs) used in reference to the nation of Israel (Luke 7:5; 23:2; John 11:48; 11:50--52; Acts 10:22; 24:2; 24:10; 24:17; 26:4; 28:19; 1 Peter 2:9).
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• The Critical Text (CT) does not help with the confusion, for they translate ἔθνος (ĕthnŏs) as pagans in this verse. The noun pagan** like Gentile did not appear until 1400.
• (YLT) **ye have known that ye were nations,
• I“you are Gentiles". and not ye were Gentiles.
• This same exact Greek word for Gentiles is translated as nation**s in Mt Luke 12:30; Galatians 3:8; Revelation 11:18; 15:4; 17:15; 18:3; 18:23; 21:24.
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• From the very beginning of 1 Corinthians, we have seen that they are Jews living amongst the nations and not in Israel (Acts 18:1-17).
• carried away** is ἀπάγω (ō), to lead away, and in context it means to be seduced to worship idols.
• dumb is ἄφωνος (ōnŏs), from a-, withoutōnḗ, voice, means voiceless.
• ye were led is ἄγω (ō), a pastoral word and means *to be led like a sheep to water*, here in context it means to be led to worship idols.
• The Jewish Corinthian assembly, while living amongst the nations in Corinth was seduced to worship false idols because they were influenced by the unbelievers around them.
03. Anathema (1 Corinthians 12:3)
• to understand is γνωρίζω (ōrizō)ṓskō, *to discern, know*, to make known unto you.
• accursed** is ἀνάθεμα (anathema), means given over to damnation, an unbreakable vow.
• This same Greek word is found 4x in 4 verses (Rom 9:3; 1 Cor 16:22; Gal 1:8--9).
• Paul writes concerning the spiritual things, that they are to realize that those in the Spirit cannot curse Jesus, and comprehend that Jesus is the Lord.
• Those in the Corinthian assembly who acknowledge Jesus is the Lord Paul writes to them as he goes into greater detail concerning the spiritual things in the upcoming passages.
