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Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

have a difference in meaning, which despite a tendency to be lost, is to be observed in numerous passages. Allos expresses a numerical difference and denotes "another of the same sort;" heteros expresses a qualitative difference and denotes "another of a different sort." Christ promised to send "another Comforter" (allos, "another like Himself," not heteros), John 14:16 . Paul says "I see a different (AV, "another") law," heteros, a law different from that of the spirit of life (not allos, "a law of the same sort"), Romans 7:23 . After Joseph's death "another king arose," heteros, one of quite a different character, Acts 7:18 . Paul speaks of "a different gospel (heteros), which is not another" (allos, another like the one he preached), Galatians 1:6,7 . See heteros (not allos) in Matthew 11:3; Acts 27:1; in Luke 23:32 heteroi is used of the two malefactors crucified with Christ. The two words are only apparently interchanged in 1 Corinthians 1:16; 6:1; 12:8-10; 14:17,19 , e.g., the difference being present, though not so readily discernible.

They are not interchangeable in 1 Corinthians 15:39-41; here heteros is used to distinguish the heavenly glory from the earthly, for these differ in genus, and allos to distinguish the flesh of men, birds, and fishes, which in each case is flesh differing not in genus but in species. Allos is used again to distinguish between the glories of the heavenly bodies, for these also differ not in kind but in degree only. For allos, see MORE , OTHER , etc. For heteros, see OTHER , STRANGE.

Note: The distinction comes out in the compounds of heteros, viz., heteroglossos, "strange tongues," 1 Corinthians 14:21; heterodidaskaleo, "to teach a different doctrine," 1 Timothy 1:3; 6:3; heterozugo, "to be unequally yoked" (i.e., with those of a different character), 2 Corinthians 6:14 .