Godspeed
Godspeed
godsped (, charo): Godspeed occurs only in 2Jo 1:10, 2Jo 1:11 the King James Version as the translation of charein, the infin. of chairo, and is rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) greeting. It means rejoice, be of good cheer, be it well with thee; chare, charete, charein, were common forms of greeting, expressive of good-will and desire for the person’s prosperity, translated in the Gospels, Hail! All Hail! (Mat 26:49; Mat 27:29; Mat 28:9, etc.); charein is the Septuagint for shalom (Isa 48:22; Isa 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.