2 Corinthians 5:8

Cited in 2 topics on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.”

— WEB

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

— KJV

“we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.”

— ASV

Cross-references

Related verses via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Philippians 1:20-24 "according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ wi…"
2 Corinthians 5:6 "Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;"
John 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also."
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like h…"
2 Corinthians 12:2-3 "I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such…"
Psalms 17:15 "As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form."
Psalms 73:23-26 "Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand."
Psalms 16:11 "You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more."

Commentary

willing--literally, "well content." Translate also, "To go (literally, migrate) from our home in the body, and to come to our home with the Lord." We should prefer to be found alive at the Lord's coming, and to be clothed upon with our heavenly body (Co2 5:2-4). But feeling, as we do, the sojourn in the body to be a separation from our true home "with the Lord," we prefer even dissolution by death, so that in the intermediate disembodied state we may go to be "with the Lord" (Phi 1:23). "To be with Christ" (the disembodied state) is distinguished from Christ's coming to take us to be with Him in soul and body (Th1 4:14-17, "with the Lord"). Perhaps the disembodied spirits of believers have fulness of communion with Christ unseen; but not the mutual recognition of one another, until clothed with their visible bodies at the resurrection (compare Th1 4:13-17), when they shall with joy recognize Christ's image in each other perfect.

— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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