the neuter of the adjective protos (the superlative degree of pro, "before"), signifies "first, or at the first," (a) in order of time, e.g., Luk 10:5, Joh 18:13, 1Co 15:46, 1Th 4:16, 1Ti 3:10; (b) in enumerating various particulars, e.g., Rom 3:2, 1Co 11:18, 1Co 12:28, Heb 7:2, Jam 3:17. It is translated "before" in Joh 15:18. See CHIEFLY, FIRST.
the neuter of proteros, the comparative degree of pro, is always used of time, and signifies "aforetime, before," e.g., Joh 6:62, Joh 9:8, 2Co 1:15, Heb 7:27; in Gal 4:13, "the first time" (RV), lit., "the former time," i.e., the former of two previous visits; in Heb 10:32 it is placed between the article and the noun, "the former days;" so in 1Pe 1:14, "the former lusts," i.e., the lusts formerly indulged. See FIRST, FORMER. "before, formerly" (etymologically akin to pro, "before"), has the force of a conjunction, e.g., Mat 1:18, Mat 26:34, Mat 26:75, Joh 14:29, Act 7:2. is used of place or position only; adverbially, signifying "in front," Luk 19:28, Phi 3:13, Rev 4:6; as a preposition, e.g., Mat 5:24, Joh 10:4; with the meaning "in the sight of a person," e.g., Mat 5:16, Mat 6:1, Mat 17:2, Luk 19:27, Joh 12:37, 1Th 2:19, RV, "before;" AV, "in the presence of;" Rev 19:10, RV, "before," especially in phrases signifying in the sight of God, as God wills, Mat 11:26, Mat 18:14 (lit., "a thing willed before your Father," RV, marg.); Luk 10:21; in the sense of "priority of rank or position or dignity," Joh 1:15, Joh 1:30 (in some texts, Joh 1:27); in an antagonistic sense, "against," Mat 23:13 (RV, marg., "before"). from en, "in," and anti, "over against," the neuter of the adjective enantios, and virtually an adverb, is also used as a preposition signifying "in the presence of, in the sight of," Luk 20:26, Act 7:10, Act 8:32; "in the judgment of," Luk 24:19. an adverb, used as a preposition, has meanings like those of No. 5, "before," Luk 1:8; "in the judgment of," Act 8:21. Some texts have the word in Act 7:10. apo, "from," with No. 6, denotes (a) "opposite," Mat 27:61; (b) "in the sight of, before," Mat 27:24, Act 3:16, Rom 3:18; (c) "against," Act 17:7. See CONTRARY, PRESENCE. kata, "down," with No. 6, lit., "down over against," is used (a) of locality, e.g., Mar 11:2, Mar 13:3, Luk 19:30; (b) as "in the sight of," Rom 4:17; in most mss. in 2Co 2:17, 2Co 12:19. from en, "in," and ops, "the eye," is the neuter of the adjective enopios, and is used prepositionally, (a) of place, that which is before or opposite a person, "towards which he turns his eyes," e.g., Luk 1:19, Act 4:10, Act 6:6, Rev 1:4, Rev 4:10, Rev 7:15; (b) in metaphorical phrases after verbs of motion, Luk 1:17, Luk 12:9, Act 9:15, etc.; signifying "in the mind or soul of persons," Luk 12:6, Act 10:31, Rev 16:19; (c) "in one's sight or hearing," Luk 24:43, Joh 20:30, 1Ti 6:12; metaphorically, Rom 14:22; especially in Gal 1:20, 1Ti 5:21, 1Ti 6:13, 2Ti 2:14, 2Ti 4:1; before, as "having a person present to the mind," Act 2:25, Jam 4:10; "in the judgment of a person," Luk 16:15, Luk 24:11, RV, "in their sight," for AV, "to;" Act 4:19, Rom 3:20, Rom 12:17, 2Co 8:21, 1Ti 2:3; "in the approving sight of God," Luk 1:75, Act 7:46, Act 10:33, 2Co 4:2, 2Co 7:12. See PRESENCE, SIGHT OF (in the). kata, "against," with No. 9, signifies "right over against, opposite;" (a) of place, Jud 1:24; (b) before God as Judge, Eph 1:4, Col 1:22. See No. 8 (b). "to exist before, or be beforehand," is found in Luk 23:12, Act 8:9, "beforetime." In the Sept., Job 42:18.
