1 Corinthians 5:3

3 I for my part, present with you in spirit although absent in body, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has so acted.

1 Corinthians 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 5:3

For I verily, as absent in body
As he really was, being now at Philippi, if any dependence is to be had upon the subscription of this epistle; or rather at Ephesus; however, wherever he was, it is certain he was not at Corinth:

but present in spirit;
in his affection to them, care of them, and concern for their good, and the glory of God:

have judged already;
he had considered of the matter, thought very deliberately about it, and was now come to a point, to a determination concerning it, what to do in it:

as though I were present;
upon the spot, in person, to do what he had resolved upon:

to him that hath so done this deed;
this infamous one, and in so scandalous a manner, and which was continued in: what that was which the apostle, upon mature deliberation and judgment, determined to do with this wicked man, is expressed in ( 1 Corinthians 5:5 ) which is to be connected with this, the whole fourth verse being to be read in a parenthesis, and that was to deliver him to Satan.

1 Corinthians 5:3 In-Context

1 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and of a kind unheard of even among the Gentiles--a man has his father's wife!

2 And you, instead of mourning and removing from among you the man who has done this deed of shame, are filled with self-complacency!

3 I for my part, present with you in spirit although absent in body, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has so acted.

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are all assembled and my spirit is with you, together with the power of our Lord Jesus,

5 I have handed over such a man to Satan for the destruction of his body, that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.