Such a truncation of Scripture leads to faulty concepts of it.
2 Corinthians 5:8
(ASV) we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
(CJB) We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord.
(DARBY) we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
(ESV) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and 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.
(NASB) we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be 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.
(NKJV) We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
(RSV) We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Leaving out man's PREFERENCE when 'quoting' this verse leaves a vastly different impression in the minds of people.
Nothing indicates that a person WILL be with the Lord immediately after death.
This begins in childhood when the kid is told that little Fluffy is now 'with Jesus' when her cat is flattened by a car,
or that Gramma is 'with Jesus' when she died.
Just like taking Malachi3:3 and creating Purgatory out of it.
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Paul doesn't give any middle ground here and he's pretty confident of it...Doesn't seem to say that he is willing to lay in the ground for a couple thousand years waiting to be able to be present with the Lord...
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
And conversely, it appears to say that if we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord...
2Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
When Paul was out of his body, he was with the Lord, in heaven...
Act 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Again, it would seem to be peculiar for Paul to be ready to die and lay in the ground in limbo for a couple of Centuries, especially knowing the Rapture could happen at any time where he would bypass that ground gig and go straight to heaven...
Php_1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Again, again...What would be the gain for Paul to be worm food for 2000 years???
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Paul's intention is to immediately be with Jesus Christ the moment he sheds his body at death...