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Godspeed

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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god´spēd ( χαίρω , chaı́rō ): "Godspeed" occurs only in 2 John 1:10 , 2 John 1:11 the King James Version as the translation of chaı́rein , the infin. of chairō , and is rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) "greeting." It means "rejoice," "be of good cheer," "be it well with thee"; chaı́re , chaı́rete , chaı́rein , were common forms of greeting, expressive of good-will and desire for the person's prosperity, translated in the Gospels, "Hail!" "All Hail!" (Matthew 26:49; Matthew 27:29; Matthew 28:9 , etc.); chaı́rein is the Septuagint for shālōm (Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 57:21; compare 2 Macc 1:10). "Godspeed" first appears in Tyndale's version; Wycliffe had "heil!" Rheims "God save you."

In the passage cited Christians are forbidden thus to salute false teachers who might come to them. The injunction does not imply any breach of charity, since it would not be right to wish anyone success in advocating what was believed to be false and harmful. We should be sincere in our greetings; formal courtesy must yield to truth, still courteously, however, and in the spirit of love.