And yet Jesus did not go to paradise that same day, as clearly testified by the scriptures
John 20:17 “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”
There is no punctuation in the greek, thus the comma placement should came after today to be more consistent with scripture.
This is not uncommon in scripture
Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
Dueteronomy 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
Jesus also yielded up his spirit to the Father.
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.
But as scripture testifies, he did no go to heaven that day.
John 20:17 “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”
The context of this passage is the resurrection
2 corinthians 5:4-5 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
Thus Paul would rather, or be "well pleased" to be absent from the body, from the earthly tent, and be present with the Lord in the heavenly dwelling. This goes right back to the main context: the resurrection
2 corinthians 5:6-8 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Notice, Paul states to always be at home with the Lord occurs at us being caught up to the Lord. This is consistent with 2 corinthians 5, to be away from the body is to be with the Lord.
1 thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord
Right, and Paul clearly states that while his departure "has come", it wouldn't be until the appearing of the Lord that he would receive his reward.
2 timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
The going to be with Christ has to be taken with the entire context of Paul's messages. To be with Christ would occur at the resurrection.
Paul states believers who have died are "sleeping", not yet at home with the Lord
1 Corinthians 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
1 corinthians 15:51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Again Paul confirms it is upon being caught up to the Lord, that we are always with Him.
1 thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord
Well, Paul did believe the resurrection was "about to be"
Acts 24:15 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;
Symbolic language from an Apocolyptic book, not the best place to create a doctrine about going to heaven upon death prior to the resurrection.