The statement You know is an equivalent of Paul’s frequent question “Do you not know?” used, for example, in 3.16. Paul refers here to facts that his readers clearly know.

Nowhere else does Paul refer to Corinthian Christians as having been heathen. Since Paul uses the past tense, when you were heathen, he must be thinking about their beliefs and way of life that changed when they became Christians, rather than about their race. Heathen or “people who did not worship God” is probably a more adequate translation than “non-Jews” in this context.

The general meaning of the rest of the verse is clear, but the Greek is extremely difficult in detail. Both ancient scribes and modern editors have made or suggested various changes in trying to make the text clearer. The main options for the translator are represented by the New English Bible text, “you were swept off to those dumb heathen gods, however you happened to be led” (as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible), and the New English Bible footnote, “you would be seized by some power that drove you to those dumb heathen gods”; similarly Revised English Bible “you used to be carried away by some impulse or other to those dumb heathen gods.” (“Dumb” in these translations means, of course, “unable to speak,” not “stupid.”)

Led astray is literally “led away,” but the extended meaning of “led into error” is the likely one here. Translators may wish to avoid the passive here and say “lifeless idols led you astray.”

The word translated dumb (Good News Bible‘s “lifeless”) is literally “voiceless.” The implied meaning expressed in various Old Testament passages is that pagan idols are lifeless and therefore cannot speak or answer. The literal translation “voiceless” should be avoided, since it appears to contradict verse 3a where people are said to speak under the influence of an evil spirit. “Lifeless” therefore gives the meaning better.

However (Good News Bible‘s “in many ways”) probably suggests repeated action. It also may be translated “in one way or another” (Translator’s New Testament).

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .