Why, oh why?

Recently I was in a bible study regarding 2 Corinthians 5. Most of the participants thought the first verses dealt with our human body and subsequent resurrection. I, however, believed that Paul is talking about the church body (people of the tabernacle).

I would translate and amplify the first 5 verses as:

Now we know if the earthly household of the tabernacle in which we live is destroyed,

we [will continue to] have encouragement  from God, through an eternal, spiritual family in heaven. 

Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be covered over with a heavenly dwelling (against the raging storms of persecution.]

Because when we are so protected, we are not nakedly [facing the storm as if sleeping under the stars]. For while we are in this [earthly] tabernacle, we groan and are burdened, persecuted and oppressed [by the storm around us], because we do not wish to be unprotected [against the storms]   but to be sheltered so that the mortal is engulfed  by [bold] life [like a new creation, born anew and inspired through the Spirit]. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 Here's why:

• verse 1 has "oikia tou skenous" which most translate as "house of the tent". However, in many other passages where oikia is used, the word meant is "household"
• verse 1 has "oikodomen" which in 10 other passages is translated as "building up" or edification. Only here is it translated as "dwelling" in the NIV and others.

If oikodomen  is encouragement, then how would v. 1 work if Paul is discussing the human body? "Now we know that if our human body is destroyed, we have this encouragement or edification or building up from God, a house not built from human hands"? It doesn't fit very well.

However, Paul is making a parallel between the punishment of his physical body, but renewal of his soul by the Spirit (4.16) and likewise how the church body is being persecuted but being renewed by the Spirit. In chapters 4-6 (and more), Paul is mentioning his ministry in an effort to get the Corinthians off their "pews" and out into the world, to stop being stymied by their internal problems and to deal with them so they can be focused on the ministry outside themselves. He is saying, "we are out of our mind for God" so should you be, and it might be tough, but it's worth it.