<p>5:4 <i>For indeed we that are in this tent do groan, being burdened. Not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life</i>- &quot;Burdened&quot; is the same Greek word Paul has used in 1:8 to describe the burden / suffering he experienced for the sake of the Gospel. It made him &quot;groan&quot; the more for mortality to be swallowed by life- the resurrection and change of our mortal body to an immortal one at the second coming. The language is that which Paul has earlier used in 1 Cor. 15. &quot;Not that we would be unclothed&quot; connects with the reference to nakedness in :3. The sense is therefore 'Not that we want to be made naked before the judgment seat of Christ and left in that shameful state of condemnation, but to be made naked and then clothed upon with immortal bodies'. I don't think that being &quot;unclothed&quot; means that Paul didn't want to die- for in Phil. 1:23 Paul says he had a strong desire to die and only wanted to remain alive for the sake of what he could do in service to others. So his desire here in 2 Cor. 5:4 <i>not</i> to be &quot;unclothed&quot; I suggest refers to the nakedness of condemnation, the metaphor introduced in the preceding verse :3.</p><p>The struggle of prayer (see on Col. 2:1) is reflected in a word associated with it- &lsquo;groaning&rsquo;. The Lord Himself prayed with strong groanings and tears, and He even now makes intercession for our prayers with groanings which are inexpressible within the limitations of words. 2 Cor. 5:4 says that we groan, being burdened, for the day when &ldquo;mortality might be swallowed up of life&rdquo;. This is the language of a burdened Israel in Egypt, groaning for deliverance. Our &lsquo;groaning&rsquo; in this mortal flesh (2 Cor. 5:2) is therefore not to be read as a justification for groaning and complaining about our humanity; but rather intense prayer for the second coming.</p>