When posting snippets; make sure that no one comes along after you and posts a LOT more Scripture.
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.
Let's try that...
2Co_5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
We are confident, I say, to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
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.
Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
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:
Seems Paul was awful anxious to die (just so he could go spend a couple thousand years in the ground?)...
Luk_23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Nothing indicates that a person WILL be with the Lord immediately after death.<<
Thank you for posting that. "Asleep" takes on a whole new meaning with that in mind.
John 14:1-4 KJV
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.