Aforetime - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Aforetime

[ 1,,G4218, pote ]
signifies once, at some time," John 9:13 (cp. proteron, in John 9:8); Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:11; Colossians 3:7; Titus 3:3; Philemon 1:11; 1 Peter 3:5, 1 Peter 3:20. In all these the RV translates it "aforetime." The AV varies it with "in time past," "some time," "sometimes," "in the old time."

[ 2,,G4386, proteron ]
the comparative of pro, "before, aforetime," as being definitely antecedent to something else, is more emphatic than pote in this respect. See, e.g., John 6:62; John 7:50; John 9:8; 2 Corinthians 1:13; Galatians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:32; 1 Peter 1:14. See BEFORE, FIRST, FORMER.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words