Why does Paul write about death in 2 Corinthians 5?
Paul writes about death in 2 Corinthians 5 to answer what happens when believers die, especially while facing his own expectation of death and loss of ministry. The earthly body is a temporary tent; when it dissolves, the eternal person continues and has a permanent building from God in the heavens.
Les explains that Paul is still dealing with the concept that he thought he was going to die and lose the rest of his ministry, and all of this is on his mind, though the Holy Spirit is inspiring it. In chapter 5, Paul answers the question, “What happens when we die?” The earthly house or tabernacle is the body of flesh, a temporary dwelling place for the real person—the mind, will, emotions, and personality. When this earthly tabernacle dissolves and returns to the ground, that does not stop us, because we are eternal. The believer then has a building of God, not a tent but something permanent for eternity, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
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.