Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:8

What does 2 Corinthians 5:8 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 5:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 5:8 means

Paul repeats his confidence and adds a preference: to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord. Death for the believer is not annihilation but conscious, welcome presence with Christ. This does not deny the future resurrection of the body; rather, it affirms that even before that final renewal, believers are truly with the Lord. Such hope breeds courage, not recklessness. It relativizes present sufferings and helps believers hold earthly life loosely yet gratefully. The verse’s calm certainty about being “at home” with the Lord provides a pastoral anchor for facing death without fear, trusting the Lord who awaits His people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

We are without fear, desiring to be free from the body, and to be with the Lord.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

we have courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from the home of the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But we are confident and have a good will to be absent rather from the body and to be present with the Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

Context

Following the principle of faith (v. 7), verse 8 states Paul’s personal stance: courage and a readiness to be with the Lord. This conviction sets the tone for verse 9, where the apostle defines his life’s aim—to please the Lord in either condition. It also leads naturally to verse 10, which explains why pleasing the Lord matters so much: all must appear before Christ’s judgment seat. Hope and accountability are thus held together.

v.7(for we walk by faith, not by sight);

v.8This passage

v.9Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:6

    Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

  • 2 Corinthians 12:2

    I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

  • Revelation 7:14

    And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  • Psalms 73:23

    Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.

  • Revelation 22:3

    And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him;

  • Psalms 17:15

    As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with beholding thy form.

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