2 Corinthians 5:8

2 Corinthians 5:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Context of 2 Corinthians 5:8

6Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- 7for we walk by faith, not by sight-- but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:8 word by word

θαρροῦμεν δὲ καὶ εὐδοκοῦμεν μᾶλλον ἐκδημῆσαι ἐκ τοῦ σώματος καὶ ἐνδημῆσαι πρὸς τὸν κύριον.Read the interlinear

• but we areθαρρέωtharrheō · be confidentG2292
• preferεὐδοκέωeudokeō · to delightG2106
• ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• to be absentἐκδημέωekdēmeō · be awayG1553
• from the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• to beἐνδημέωendēmeō · be homeG1736
• with the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:8

• 2 Corinthians 5:6Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--
• 2 Corinthians 12:2I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
• Luke 2:29“Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
• Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Philippians 1:20according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
• 2 Peter 1:14knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
• 2 Peter 3:11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
• 2 Corinthians 5:9Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
• Psalms 16:11You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
• Psalms 17:15As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.
• Psalms 73:23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.
• Matthew 25:21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’
• John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.
• John 17:24Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:17Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8We are confident - We are of good courage, notwithstanding our many difficulties; because we have this earnest of the Spirit, and the unfailing testimony of God. And notwithstanding this, we are willing rather to be absent from the body - we certainly prefer a state of glory to a state of suffering, and the enjoyment of the beatific vision to even the anticipation of it by faith and hope; but, as Christians, we cannot desire to die before our time.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8We are confident - 2 Corinthians 5:6. We are cheerful, and courageous, and ready to bear our trial. Tyndale renders it: “we are of good comfort.” And willing rather to be absent from the body - We would prefer to die. The same idea occurs in Philemon 1:23. “Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better.” The sense is, that Paul would have preferred to die, and to go to heaven; rather than to remain in a world of sin and trial. To be…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-10The idea of eternal hope is promising, with heavenly bodies replacing our dying ones. The God of resurrection will raise us and present us with all believers (4:14). Paul faced challenges in Ephesus, which inspired this statement about resurrection hope (1:8–11). His body's weakness reminded him of life after death, when our earthly body will be taken down in death and decay (see 1 Corinthians 15:42–57; Philippians 3:20–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. 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 (2Co 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…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:8

• Death
• Love
• Man

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Constrain
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Earthly
• Faith
• Groan
• Man
• Pray
• Reconcile
• Sin

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings