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 we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord – 7for we live by faith, not by sight. Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:8 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• We are confidentθαρρέωtharrheō · be confidentG2292
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• willingεὐδοκέωeudokeō · to delightG2106
• ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• to be absentἐκδημέωekdēmeō · be awayG1553
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the bodyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983
• to be presentἐνδημέωendēmeō · be homeG1736
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:8

• 2 Corinthians 5:6Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord –
• 2 Corinthians 12:2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.
• Luke 2:29“Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.
• Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Philippians 1:20My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
• 2 Peter 1:14since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me.
• 2 Peter 3:11Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,
• 2 Corinthians 5:9So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.
• Psalms 16:11You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.
• Psalms 17:15As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.
• Psalms 73:23But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
• Matthew 25:21His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
• John 14:3And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.
• John 17:24“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly 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