Verse 23
Paul felt himself in a bind. If forced to choose life or death, he faced a hard decision. On the one hand he desired to depart this life and go to be with the Lord he loved forever (2 Corinthians 5:8). That would be better for him personally. If Paul had believed in purgatory or soul sleep, he would hardly have said he regarded death as a preferable alternative to life.
"It seems most likely, therefore, that Paul expected to be ’with the Lord’ in full consciousness." [Note: Fee, p. 149.]
The same Greek word translated "depart" (analuo) appears elsewhere describing the release of a prisoner from his bonds (Acts 16:26) and the departure of a guest from a wedding feast (Luke 12:36). It also described a military unit striking camp and sailors releasing a boat from its moorings. [Note: See Martin, p. 78.]
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