A commonly misquoted scripture

We have all heard people say and have probably all said that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

Well, that is not exactly what the verse actually says:

2 Corinthians 5:8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (ESV)

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. (KJV)

I know one thing it does say and that is this, if I am present with the Lord then I am not in that fleshly rotting body.
I truly would rather be with the Lord in His presence than on the earth in this corruptible body, but because we are to preach the Gospel to others I will stay in this body and see many others get saved.

Paul says that those who have died will come with Jesus and have their dead bodies raised incorruptible.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 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:

My main point was the the misquotation of the verse is not the same as what the verse says.

To say "I would rather be absent from my home and to be present at the ball game" is not the same as "to be absent from my home is to be present at the ball game."

"TMK Wrote: {We have all heard people say and have probably all said that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

Well, that is not exactly what the verse actually says:

2 Corinthians 5:8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (ESV)

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. (KJV)}"

Yes, I rather be away from my mortal body, and I am confident in his WORD, and willing to be absent from my body, and will be at present with the Lord, till then, I live for Him here on Earth!.

Amen Arthur.