1 Corinthians 5:3
in 1 Corinthians 5Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing,
KJV
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 5
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For I verily - But I, whatever it may cost me; however you may esteem my interference; and whatever personal ill-will may be the result toward me, have adjudged this case to be so flagrant as to demand the exercise of discipline, and since the church to whom it belongs have neglected it, I use the authority of an apostle, and of a spiritual father, in directing it to take place.
This site's exposition
Although I am absent from you in body
on 1 Corinthians 5:3-5
Paul passes sentence absent in body yet present in spirit, with the church assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus. Handing the man over to Satan puts him outside the church's shelter, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
If we also, in our diverse provinces, (but) present mutually in spirit, observe those very solemnities, whose then celebration our present discourse has been defending, that is the sacramental law.
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 192 · Written before 458.
proposed
None would expect anything else, implies Paul, once again showing how important the matter was.
"For I verily being absent in body, but present in spirit." Mark his energy. He suffers them not even to wait for his presence, nor to receive him first and then pass the sentence of binding: but as if on the point of expelling some contagion before that it have spread itself into the rest of the body, he hastens to restrain it. And therefore he subjoins the clause, "I have judged already, as though I were present." These things moreover he said, not only to urge them unto the declaration of their sentence and to give them no opportunity of contriving something else, but also to frighten them, as one who knew what was to be done and determined there. For this is the meaning of being "present in spirit:" as Elisha was present with Gehazi, and said, "Went not my heart with thee?" Wonderful! How great is the power of the gift, in that it makes all to be together and as one; and qualifies them to know the things which are far off. "I have judged already as though I were present." He permits them not to have any other device. "Now I have uttered my decision as if I were present: let there be no delays and puttings off: for nothing else must be done."
Come, now, if he had not "wholly saddened" so many persons in the first Epistle; if he had "rebuked" none, had "terrified" none; if he had "smitten" the incestuous man alone; if, for his cause, he had sent none into panic, had struck (no) "inflated" one with consternation,-would it not be better for you to suspect, and more believing for you to argue, that rather some one far different had been in the same predicament at that time among the Corinthians; so that, rebuked, and terrified, and already wounded with mourning, he therefore-the moderate nature of his fault permitting it-subsequently received pardon, than that you should interpret that (pardon as granted) to an incestuous fornicator?
A commentator
Dionysius of AlexandriaEpistle X - Against Bishop Germanus · Written before 264.
proposed
Moreover, we did not withdraw from the visible assembling of ourselves together, with the Lord's presence. But those in the city I tried to gather together with all the greater zeal, as if I were present with them; for I was absent indeed in the …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Notice the indignation. He does not allow them to wait for his arrival and only then bind the fornicator, but hastens to stop the evil, the contagion, before it spreads to the entire body of the Church. He said "being present with you in spirit" …
In order not to appear proud, he also takes them as partners: for he says, "in your assembly in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," that is, so that the assembly would be constituted not according to human custom, but according to God; so …
Then when he says, For though absent in body, he supplies for their failure by pronouncing sentence against the sinner. In regard to this he does three things: first, he shows the authority of the judge; secondly, the method of judging; thirdly, the sentence of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Perhaps he was a minister, a teacher, or a principal man among them. By this means the church and their profession were more reproached. Note, In dealing with scandalous sinners, not only are they to be charged with the fact, but the aggravating circumstances of it.
For I verily, as absent in body,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
as absent--The best manuscripts read, "being absent." present in spirit-- (2Ki 5:26; Col 2:5). so done--rather, "perpetrated," as the Greek word here is stronger than that for "done" in 1Co 5:2. "So," that is, so scandalously while called a brother.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Absent in body, but present in spirit - Perhaps St. Paul refers to the gift of the discernment of spirits, which it is very likely the apostles in general possessed on extraordinary occasions. He had already seen this matter so clearly, that he had determined on that sort of punishment which should be inflicted for this crime.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| γὰρ | gar | though | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἀπὼν | apon | being absent | G548 → | |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σώματι | somati | in body | G4983 → | 142 times |
| παρὼν | paron | being present | G3918 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | in spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ἤδη | ede | already | G2235 → | 61 times |
| κέκρικα | kekrika | have judged | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| παρὼν | paron | being present | G3918 → | |
| τὸν | ton | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| κατεργασάμενον | katergasamenon | having produced | G2716 → |
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
γὰρthough
garG1063 →1039 times
ἀπὼνbeing absent
aponG548 →
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
σώματιin body
somatiG4983 →142 times
παρὼνbeing present
paronG3918 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματιin spirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
ἤδηalready
edeG2235 →61 times
κέκρικαhave judged
kekrikaG2919 →114 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
παρὼνbeing present
paronG3918 →
τὸνthe [one]
tonG3588 →19766 times
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
κατεργασάμενονhaving produced
katergasamenonG2716 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
it leads to
- Colossians 2:5
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
- Colossians 2:5
Through
Colossians 2:5For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–4
Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17
Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–4
Through
2 Corinthians 10:1Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
it leads to
- Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- 2 Corinthians 10:10
For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
- Galatians 5:2
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
- Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
- Matthew 11:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies18
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistle X - Against Bishop Germanus; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 15; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Fasting; Tertullian, On Modesty; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 192; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.