His mother, Eusébie née Gallot, a pious, strong and intelligent pastor's daughter, who founded a girls' school, devoted herself to his early training.

[3] Nikolaus von Zinzendorf and Johannes Gossner also helped him overcome a spiritual crisis and come to a wholehearted commitment and faith in God's grace.

[1] In 1838, however, he returned to Berlin in order to succeed his mother as tutor for the crown prince, Frederick William of Prussia.

The prince was a receptive pupil for the clergyman, who taught him fear of God, and Godet remained a close friend of the Emperor to be for the rest of the latter's life.

Godet did much to interpret German theological thought to French–speaking Protestants, and the English translations of his works made him influential in international NT scholarship.

His Commentary on the Gospel of John, which continues the line of interpretation of Christoph Ernst Luthardt, ranks as the most prominent of his works.

"[8] At the end of his Introduction to his commentary on John's Gospel, he made the appeal: "I merely ask of the reader an impartial and attentive study of the context in every particular case.

[3] In addition, he was an ardent defender of orthodox evangelical Christianity against supporters of liberal Protestantism such as Ferdinand Buisson.