Bible Studies

Does 2 Corinthians 5 8 teach that believers will go to heaven when they die?

by lee thriepland
08/08/18
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Does 2 Corinthians 5-8 teach that believers will go to heaven when they die? (extract from my full writing do believers go to heaven when they die?)

It is most commonly believed in the Christian teaching that when a person dies they go either to heaven or to hell. The saved being the ones who go to heaven to be with God, the unsaved go to hell.

One of the verses used to support the idea that the Bible teaches that people will go straight to heaven when they die is 2 corinthians 5-8.

2 Corinthians 5-8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

So let’s examine the verse and see if it actually does what it is claimed that it does.

On face value simply taking the verse alone it could appear that Paul is saying that to be absent from the body (to be dead) is to be with the Lord (in heaven)

It has to be noted that the words DEAD and IN HEAVEN are mine, they have been added to the text. They do not appear in the text, it has to be assumed that this is what Paul is referring to. So let’s add some context to the verse and see if Paul is actually talking about physical death and going to heaven.

We shall start at the beginning of the chapter

2 Corinthians 5- 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

So in this verse Paul starts off by stating that our human earthly bodies are the tabernacle of God.

The tabernacle is the earthly residing place of God. Whereas in the Old covenant the physical tabernacle was where God ”resided” in the New Covenant it is our bodies that have become the earthly residing place of God. (see also my writing who is the comforter)

2 corinthians 6-16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1 corinthians 3-16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Romans 8-9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Paul states that if our earthly bodies, where God resides are dissolved (destroyed) then we know that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.

Dissolved being the Greek Καταλυθῇ, katalythē and means destroyed, dissolved, demolished.

So paul is saying that although our earthly body may die, we have an eternal building for God our new glorified body that is in the heavens.

Paul then continues to tell us that when we know this we groan with desire to be clothed with that eternal house, to put on our eternal bodies which come from heaven.

2 Corinthians 5- 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

Simply we long to receive that new glorified body.

2 Corinthians 5- 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Clothed with the immortal body unlike those that will be “naked” or won’t receive that eternal body.

2 Corinthians 5- 4 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.

We that are in this tabernacle, this earthly body where God resides in us, not wanting to be unclothed (to rid ourselves of this earthly body) not wanting to die, but rather we want our new body so that our mortality is no more. For this mortality must put on immortality

1 Corinthians 15-53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

This happens not at our physical death but it is at the return of Jesus when the dead in Christ will rise.

1 Thessalonians 4- 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

This is the (first) resurrection of the dead.

1 corinthians 15-52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

And it is THEN, at the return of Jesus, at the second coming that those who are in Christ will be with the Lord forever NOT before.

1 Thessalonians 4-17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Paul then continues

2 Corinthians 5- 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

The one who has given us this purpose is God himself. It is God that gave us the security of the spirit.

Earnest being the Greek ἀρραβών arrabón security

2 Corinthians 5- 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

Paul says we are always confident, referring back to the security of the spirit that we have been given.

Then Paul continues that when we ourselves dwell in our bodies, when our body is OUR home and not the residence of God then we are absent from the Lord as the Lord does not dwell in us.

Paul explained in Galatians that when we are crucified with Christ, although we still physically live it is not us that live anymore but it is Christ that lives within us and that the life lived in the flesh is lived by the faith of Jesus.

Galatians 2-20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul also stated that we are dead with Christ but alive with him.

Romans 6-8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

2 timothy 2-11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

When we believe we receive the spirit of his son (again see my writing who is the comforter)

Galatians 4-6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

John 14-23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

When we receive the spirit and walk in the spirit we no longer walk in the flesh.

Galatians 5-16 his I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh

Romans 8-5 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

When Christ lives in us then we are not at home in our earthly bodies. To live in the flesh is to live without and therefore be absent from the lord.

2 Corinthians 5- 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Walking in faith

2 Corinthians 5-8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul then states that all are trying to be accepted of God whether we are present or absent, those that have Christ or those that have not Christ but try (in vain through the law). For everyone must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 corinthians 5-9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Far from saying that to die is to be with the Lord in heaven in actual fact when Paul states that he would rather be absent from the body and to be present with Christ he simply means that he would rather not live in the flesh, living without God but rather to die to self and so live in the spirit that resides in him and therefore be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5-8 in context has absolutely nothing to do with going to heaven once a believer dies but is actually referring to God dwelling in believers.