Paul continues his topic of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:2: “You know that you were Gentiles (unbelievers), carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led“.

In this context, ‘dumb’ doesn’t mean stupid any more than ‘ignorant’ does. The dictionary definition of the word ‘dumb’ means unable to speak. These Christians at Corinth had previously been unbelievers, taught by their parents, their neighbors, and their spiritual leaders, to pursue these ‘dumb’ idols that could not speak.

They were carried away by the superstition of the previous religion, but never heard from the God who Created them. There was no relationship with their gods. They didn’t know how to hear from God, so they continued to live in the ‘ignorance’ of their ‘dumb’ gods.

Paul is setting up an argument for the benefit of spiritual gifts in the life of the church. We have now found a connection with the real God, who speaks loud and clear to us through these spiritual gifts. Let’s not be ignorant and expect that our God is, likewise, unable to speak. If we want to hear from God today, it happens through these spiritual gifts He is about to unfold.