πρό

Before

The preposition πρό assists the ablative case or is used as a prefix to express before in terms of time, place, or rank. The temporal use of πρό expresses before; when conveying spatial meaning, it is defined as in front of or before in position; and when used to demonstrate rank, πρό indicates a preference or prominence.

When πρό is used to denote time, it relates to an action or state before another event or time. This is the primary use of πρό. In Matthew 5:12, Jesus instructs the Israelites who would follow Him to be happy when others revile and persecute them while speaking all kinds of false things against them. They are to rejoice because great is their reward in heaven, for the Jews also persecuted the prophets before them. Paul closes his letter to the assembly in Rome with greetings, including from Andronicus and Junia, his countrymen and fellow prisoners, who were in Christ before him (Romans 16:7). In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul uses πρό to indicate the timing concerning the mystery that was hidden before the ages, but in the wisdom of God is now being revealed through Paul’s words. When it comes to judging motives, we are not even to judge ourselves. For when the Lord comes, He will reveal the counsels of the heart (1 Corinthians 4:5). In 2 Corinthians chapter twelve, Paul writes about his experience with death. He writes of a time that was before fourteen years had passed since the time of writing. This man was caught up to the edge of the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). The gospel preached by Paul did not come from men. After his experience on the Damascus road, Paul did not go up to the apostles before him, but out in the Arabia and then he returned to Damascus proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah (Galatians 1:17). Before certain men from James came to Antioch, Peter would eat with the Gentiles (Galatians 2:12). However, once they came, Peter separated and drew away many of the Jews with him. Paul rebukes him for his actions, for in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Israel was kept under guard by the law until faith in Christ came (Galatians 3:23). The law was a tutor to bring them to Christ, but since faith in Christ has come, there is no longer a need for a child-trainer (Galatians 3:24–25).

πρό may be used to express preference or prominence. In James 5:12, James writes, “But above all ...” encouraging fellow Christians not swear by heaven or earth, or by any other oath by any other means. Instead, their speech is to be clear, accurate, and with full intention of fulfilling what they state they will do. After noting that the end of all things is at hand, Peter encourages the saints to, above all, have a fervent love for themselves, using their Spiritual gifts as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:8–10).

In Acts 14:13, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was before (πρό) the city, brought out oxen to make a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas because of the healing of a lame man. The apostles performed many signs and wonders in Jerusalem after the resurrection of Christ, testifying to His resurrection. In response, the high priest and Sadducees had them thrown into prison. However, during the night, God sent an angel to release them. When the officers of the temple went the next day to retrieve them, finding the guards before (πρό) the door and all things secured, they did not find the apostles within (Acts 5:23).

When used in composition, πρό primarily conveys ‘before’ in the sense of place or prominence.

The English word prognosis is derived from the Greek word προγινώσκω: a combination of πρό (before) + γινώσκω (to know). A prognosis, then, comes from previous knowledge. According to God’s prognosis (foreknowledge), He marked off the bounds of those He called into the Church to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). God did not cast away the people He foreknew (Romans 11:2). Christ was foreknown before the foundations of the world, but was manifested in the last times (1 Peter 1:20). The first believers in the resurrected Christ who resided in Jerusalem, where scattered according to the foreknowledge of God (1 Peter 1:1–2).