2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10.  The context of Paul’s earthly tent passage is Paul’s jars of clay passage.  He is defending his speaking ministry by saying that he speaks by faith, “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (4:14). His faith is not in a conscious intermediate state, but in the resurrection from the dead.  He does not want to be found naked (the intermediate state) but to be clothed with immortal life at the resurrection (5:4).  Since he has this hope, he is able to face tribulation and death confidently, knowing that anything he faces in this life is but a “light momentary affliction” (4:17).  His hope is in a permanent “building from God” (5:1).

LORD, we put our faith in you, and confidently expect you to bring us out of this temporary state and into a permanent one.