II Corinthians 5:1-8
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“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now He that has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also has given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
Be sure to read this entire passage before the explanation.
Paul is speaking of being “at home in the body” and “absent from the Lord” (II Cor 5:6), and then “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (II Cor 5:8). This scripture is similar in principle to Philippians 1:23-24, explained later.
Does II Cor 5:8 prove that going to heaven is the reward Paul was looking forward to at death? Was Paul’s immortal soul waiting to be “absent from his body” in order to join Christ (“the Lord”) in heaven? It is critical to notice that Paul said nothing of when and where he would be with Christ! Nothing in the text implies that this would happen immediately. II Cor 5:2 references how Christians “groan” to one day become spirit with God. This is what Paul sought above all things.
All of I Corinthians 15:1-58 explains that Christians have two bodies: One is physical (the first body). The other is a spirit body (at the resurrection). Paul was speaking of this spirit body, which comes later at the resurrection. This entire chapter becomes the context of II Corinthians 5:1-8.
II Cor 5:4 is the key to the entire passage! Our physical bodies are a type of “clothing” and when Christians are dead they are, in a sense, unclothed! Paul recognized this and, because he did not merely want to die (and “be unclothed”), he put the emphasis on having “mortality [death] be swallowed up of life”—eternal life!
II Cor 5:7 reveals that Christians walk in faith in this life looking to salvation, while Hebrews 11:13 reveals that they see salvation “afar off”—not something that occurs immediately upon death. The verses disproving the immortal soul concept (Ezek. 18:4, 20; Matt. 10:28; etc.) also apply to Eze 18:8. Suggested reading:
• Do the Saved Go to Heaven?
• What Is the Kingdom of God?