Bible Dictionaries

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

Aforetime

(Strong's #4218 — particle — pote — pot-eh' )

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

2: πρότερον

(Strong's #4386 — Adjective — proteron — prot'-er-on )

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; 7:50; 9:8; 2 Corinthians 1:13; Galatians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 4:6; 7:27; 10:32; 1 Peter 1:14 . See BEFORE , FIRST , FORMER.

Bibliography Information
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Aforetime'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/a/aforetime.html. 1940.