[CynicalBear]

>>You left out the FIRST of the verse:<<

Your question was about being with the Lord when we die. Either way you look at the verse it would indicate that it was Paul’s perception that to be away from this body was to be with the Lord.

[Elsie]

Either way you look at the verse it would indicate that it was Paul’s perception that to be away from this body was to be with the Lord.

It does NOT say that at all.

It merely speaks of Paul's PREFERENCE.