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2 Corinthians 5:8
ESV Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
NIV We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
NASB but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
CSB In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
NLT Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
KJV We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

What does 2 Corinthians 5:8 mean?

This is a poignant, soul-baring moment from the apostle Paul. He is not suicidal, but he is honest about his deepest desires. He would rather be with the Lord than in his mortal, burdened, groaning, dying body. For the first time in this chapter, he describes being in his future, eternal body with Christ as being "at home." He is utterly convinced that it is where he is headed. Heaven is where he is meant to be forever. Paul's faith that the glory of his eternal life will far outweigh and outlast the suffering of earthly life makes him want that life more than this one. Of course it does. How could it not?

That same faith, though, gives him courage. Knowing his eternal fate is secure gives him fearlessness to keep going in this life. It emboldens Paul to stay on the path God has called him to. He is not actively seeking death; he is simply ready to go whenever God calls him home. Until then, he will keep working at what God has given him to do in the here and now.
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