Madrid is correct in pointing out that Paul is not asserting to be absent from the body is to be immediately with the Lord. Paul is saying that he would prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. There is no time frame other than after death mentioned. We agree with Madrid that there would be an intermediate state between absent from the body and home with the Lord . . . (Robert M. Zins, “Purgatory,” in A Gospel Contrary! A Study of Roman Catholic Abuse of History and Scripture to Propagate Error [2023], 289-90)
