The New Testament epistles are filled with personal greetings and farewells. This fact reminds us that the world of the first-century church was alive with real men and women who loved one another and served together in an integrated network of believers.

In the pages of the epistles, we meet tradesmen, such as Aquila; government officials, such as Sergius Paulos; landowners, such as Barnabas; and slaves, such as Onesimus. Some were Jews; some were Gentiles. Some were masters; some were slaves. Some were dark-skinned; some were light-skinned. Some spoke Greek, some Latin, and still others spoke Aramaic. Yet, across the miles, demographics, and cultures, these Christians exchanged greetings and farewells, as well as their love and prayers for one another.

Whether in Ephesus or Corinth, on the Isle of Crete or in the mountains of present-day Turkey, these Christians served the same omnipresent God. Christ was with Paul and Silas in the dungeon in Philippi and also simultaneously guiding Barnabas and John Mark as they traveled through Cyprus to encourage the believers there.

These interconnected Christians in different parts of the Roman Empire prayed for one another, wept with one another, encouraged one another, and gathered in faith before the common Mercy Seat where Christ offered His blood. They sent letters of loving greetings and exhortation to one another. These epistles often closed with parting phrases, such as “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,” “grace and peace be multiplied unto you,” “farewell,” “Godspeed,” and “rejoice!”

Have you ever taken the time to read a collection of the closing verses of some of the New Testament epistles to see the common bond of faith in an omnipresent God that united the hearts of the early Christians? For example, here are the valedictions from the Apostle Paul’s letters in the Bible.

Romans 16:27: “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

I Corinthians 16:24: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

II Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

Galatians 6:18: “Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Ephesians 6:24: “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”

Philippians 4:23: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Colossians 4:18: “The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.”

I Thessalonians 5:28: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

II Thessalonians 3:18: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

I Timothy 6:21b: “ Grace be with thee. Amen.”

II Timothy 4:22: “The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Titus 3:15: “All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.”

Philemon 25: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Following the pattern of these Biblical valedictions, Christians through the years have often parted with the spoken words of blessing, “God be with you.” This appropriate farewell is a trusting statement of God’s omnipresence. It is a verbalized realization that the same gracious God that goes with me will also go with you.

The etymology of our departing word goodbye has morphed from the parting benediction “God be with ye.” If you quickly repeat “God be with ye” faster and faster, you can easily see how goodbye became the abbreviated form of this parting phrase.

In essence, every time we say goodbye, we should be aware that we are actually saying “God be with you.” We are expressing the hope and trust that God’s abiding presence would attend our loved ones until we meet again. Rightly understood and appreciated, every goodbye we give is a reminder of God’s omnipresence!

We do not know what a day may bring forth. However, we can be assured that when we share our final farewell with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we know that one day we shall all be together again forever with our omnipresent Lord Jesus in Heaven!