Sometime
An Archaic Usage
In modern English, "sometime" typically means "at an unspecified future time" or "occasionally." However, in the King James Version of the Bible, the word carries a very different meaning: "formerly," "at some past time," or "once upon a time." This shift in meaning between 1611 and today can cause confusion for readers who bring modern definitions to the KJV text. Understanding the original sense of "sometime" unlocks some of the most powerful before-and-after statements in the New Testament.
Sometime in Ephesians
Two of the most significant uses of "sometime" appear in Ephesians. In Ephesians 2:13, the KJV reads: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Modern translations render this as "you who once were far off" (ESV) or "you who formerly were far away" (NASB). The passage contrasts the Gentiles' former alienation from God and Israel with their present inclusion in Christ. Ephesians 5:8 similarly states: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." The contrast could not be sharper: what believers once were is completely different from what they now are.
Sometime in Colossians
Paul uses the same term in Colossians 1:21: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." Again, the word marks the turning point between the believers' former condition of hostility toward God and their present reconciliation through Christ's death. Colossians 3:7 continues the theme: "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them," referring to the sins listed in the previous verse—sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness.
Sometime in 1 Peter
First Peter 3:20 uses "sometime" to describe the people of Noah's generation: "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah." Here the word refers to a specific historical period—the time before the flood—when God patiently endured human rebellion before bringing judgment. The passage uses Noah's generation as a backdrop for discussing baptism and salvation through Christ.
The Theology of Before and After
The biblical passages using "sometime" share a common theological structure: they all describe a dramatic transformation. The Greek word behind "sometime" is typically pote, meaning "once" or "formerly." Paul and Peter consistently use this word to establish a contrast between the believers' past and present. This before-and-after pattern is central to New Testament theology: believers were dead, now alive; were darkness, now light; were enemies, now reconciled; were far off, now brought near. The transformation is not gradual self-improvement but a radical change accomplished by God through Christ.
Why Translation Matters
The evolution of the word "sometime" illustrates why Bible translation requires ongoing attention. A word that clearly communicated "formerly" to 17th-century English readers now suggests "occasionally" to modern ones, potentially obscuring the text's meaning entirely. Modern translations address this by using "once," "formerly," "in the past," or "at one time"—phrases that accurately convey the decisive break between the believer's old life and new life in Christ.
Biblical Context
The KJV uses 'sometime' or 'sometimes' in Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:21, Colossians 3:7, and 1 Peter 3:20, among other passages. In each case, the word translates the Greek pote, meaning 'formerly' or 'once.' These passages all describe the contrast between believers' past condition of sin and alienation and their present state of grace and reconciliation in Christ.
Theological Significance
The concept behind 'sometime' is foundational to the New Testament's understanding of salvation as transformation. By marking a decisive break between past and present, Paul and Peter teach that becoming a Christian is not simply adding religious practices to an existing life but entering a fundamentally new existence. The 'sometime/now' structure affirms that God's grace creates real, observable change in those who receive it.
Historical Background
The English word 'sometime' in its archaic sense of 'formerly' was standard usage in the early 17th century when the KJV was translated. Shakespeare and other contemporary writers used the word in this same sense. As English evolved, the word shifted to mean 'occasionally' or 'at some future point,' creating a gap between the KJV text and modern understanding. This semantic shift is one of many that prompted modern translation efforts.