John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 5:8

"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." — 2 Corinthians 5:8 (ASV)

We are confident, I say. He again repeats what he had said concerning the confidence of the pious—that they are so far from breaking down under the severity of the cross, and from being disheartened by afflictions, that they are made more courageous by this. For the worst of evils is death, yet believers long to attain it, as it is the beginning of perfect blessedness.

Therefore, and may be regarded as equivalent to because, in this way: “Nothing can happen to us that can shake our confidence and courage, since death (which others so much dread) is to us great gain (Philippians 1:21). For nothing is better than to leave the body, so that we may attain close communion with God, and may truly and openly enjoy his presence. Therefore, by the decay of the body we lose nothing that belongs to us.”

Observe here—what has been stated once already—that true faith produces not merely a contempt of death, but even a desire for it. Accordingly, on the other hand, it is a sign of unbelief when the dread of death predominates in us over the joy and consolation of hope.

Believers, however, desire death—not as if they would, by an insistent desire, anticipate their Lord’s day, for they willingly retain their footing in their earthly station as long as their Lord may see fit. They would rather live to the glory of Christ than die to themselves (Romans 14:7), and for their own advantage; for the desire of which Paul speaks springs from faith.

Therefore, it is not at all contrary to the will of God. We may also gather from these words of Paul that souls, when released from the body, live in the presence of God; for if, on being absent from the body, they have God present, they certainly live with him.

Here it is asked by some: “How then did it happen that the holy fathers dreaded death so much, as for example David, Hezekiah, and the whole of the Israelite church, as appears from Psalm 4, from Isaiah 38:3, and from Psalm 115:17?”

I am aware of the answer that is usually given—that the reason why death was so much dreaded by them was that the revelation of the future life was still obscure, and the consolation, consequently, was but small.

Now I acknowledge that this, in part, accounts for it, but not entirely, for the holy fathers of the ancient Church did not in every case tremble when forewarned of their death. Indeed, they embraced death with readiness and with joyful hearts.

For Abraham departed without regret, full of days (Genesis 25:8). We do not read that Isaac was reluctant to die (Genesis 35:29). Jacob, with his last breath, declares that he is waiting for the salvation of the Lord (Genesis 49:18).

David himself, too, dies peacefully, without any regrets (1 Kings 2:10), and Hezekiah did likewise.

As for the fact that David and Hezekiah, each of them, on one occasion pleaded against death with tears, the reason was that they were being punished by the Lord for certain sins, and consequently, they felt the anger of the Lord in death.

Such was the cause of their alarm, and this believers might feel even today, under the reign of Christ. The desire, however, of which Paul speaks, is the disposition of a well-regulated mind.