⁸ Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

²⁰ It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way but that by my speaking with all boldness Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.^{(A) 21} For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. ²³ I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,^{(B) 24} but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.

⁶ So we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—

² Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he^[a] is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.^(A)

² I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.^{(A) 3} And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.^(A)

⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.