1 Corinthians 5:3
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.
a. NLT: Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.[fn] And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]
b. NIV: For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]
c. YLT: for I indeed, as being absent as to the body, and present as to the spirit, have already judged, as being present, him who so wrought this thing: [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]
d. Amplified Bible Classic: As for my attitude, though I am absent [from you] in body, I am present in spirit, and I have already decided and passed judgment, as if actually present, [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
e. Worrell Translation: For I, verily, being absent in the body, but present in the Spirit, have already, as if present, judged him who so wrought this; [Copyright 1904 by A.S. Worrell. Copyright assigned to the Assemblies of God, Springfield, MO. This edition was published 1980 by the Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802. Printed in the U.S.A.]
f. Wuest Translation: Fot, as for myself, I indeed, being absent in body but present in spirit, already handed down my sentence, and this sentence stands as though I were present concerning this one who thus did this thing. [The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest. Ⓒ Copyright Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1961. All rights reserved.]
1. “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit…”
a. For [Strong: 1063. gar gar a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]
b. I [Strong: 1473. ego eg-o' a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]
c. verily [Strong: 3303. men men a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with 1161 (this one, the former, etc.):--even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.]
d. as [Strong: 5613. hos hoce probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.
e. absent [Strong: 548. apeimi ap'-i-mee from 575 and 1510; to be away:--be absent.]
f. [Strong: 3588. [tō] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tō] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé hē, hai, tas.]
g. [in] body [Strong: 4983. soma so'-mah from 4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively:--bodily, body, slave.]
h. but [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
i. present [Strong: 3918. pareimi par'-i-mee from 3844 and 1510 (including its various forms); to be near, i.e. at hand; neuter present participle (singular) time being, or (plural) property:--come, X have, be here, + lack, (be here) present.]
j. [Strong: 3588. [tō] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tō] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé hē, hai, tas.]
k. [in] spirit [Strong: 4151. pneuma pnyoo'-mah from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]
1). I have always heard this phrase used in a very common usage in the sense of, I won’t be there physically but my heart and feelings are with you. I am with you in spirit, but I don’t think that is what is meant here. The Scriptural example that I believe resembles what Paul was referring to here is what happened to Ezekiel while he was in exile in Babylon. Ezekiel had an out of body experience and was taken to Jerusalem by the Spirit of God, yet his physical body stayed in Babylon. The experience actually begins in chapter 8, but it concludes in 11.
a). Ezekiel 11:1-25 Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
11:2 Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
11:3 Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
11:4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
11:6 Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.
11:7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
11:8 Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
11:9 And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
11:10 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
11:11 This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
11:12 And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
11:13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
11:14 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
11:15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
11:16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
11:17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
11:18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
11:21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
11:22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
11:24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
11:25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.
2). Getting back to the passage in 1 Corinthians 5:3 and in light of the passage in Ezekiel, I personally believe that Paul was transported in the Spirit to Corinth. There are Scriptural instances of saints being translated over large distances in their physical bodies by the Spirit of God.
a). Elijah: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Phillip: Acts 8:39, 40;
3). When the Apostle Paul was caught up to heaven he did not know if he was in his physical body or out of it.
a). 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I knew a man in Christ Above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter.
4). John was physically in the Isle of Patmos, but in his spirit he was given a vision that is the book of Revelation.
5). What is quite possibly meant then by “absent in body, present in spirit” is he was having an out of body experience by the Spirit of God. His spirit left his body and went in the Spirit to Corinth, while his body physically stayed where it was.
2. “…have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.”
a. have judged [Strong: 2919. krino kree'-no properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.] [Zodhiates: To separate,distinguish, discriminate between good and evil, select, choose out the good. In the NT, it means to judge, to from or give an opinion after separating and considering the particulars of a case.]
b. already [Strong: 2235. ede ay'-day apparently from 2228 (or possibly 2229) and 1211; even now:--already, (even) now (already), by this time.]
c. as [Strong: 5613. hos hoce probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]
d. [though I were] present [Strong: 3918. pareimi par'-i-mee from 3844 and 1510 (including its various forms); to be near, i.e. at hand; neuter present participle (singular) time being, or (plural) property:--come, X have, be here, + lack, (be here) present.]
e. [Strong: 3588. [ton] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé hē, hai, tas.]
f. [concerning him that…done] [Strong: 2716. katergazomai kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee from 2596 and 2038; to work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion:--cause, to (deed), perform, work (out).]
g. so [Strong: 3779. houto hoo'-to, or (before a vowel houtos hoo'-toce adverb from 3778; in this way (referring to what precedes or follows):--after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more, on this fashion(-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.]
h. this deed [Strong: 5124. touto too'-to neuter singular nominative or accusative case of 3778; that thing:--here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).]
1). After considering the particulars of this case the Apostle Paul discriminated between the good and evil and came to a judgment. The judgment is of course mentioned in the next few verses. But some may say, “Didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.? Yes he did, and it is the same Greek word, but what Jesus was referring to and what Paul was dealing with are two different things. Jesus was referring to judging a brother or sister who has a spec in their eye. He is talking about knit picking, and he condemned it. There is a big difference between a spec in my brother’s eye and my brother sleeping with his father’s wife. Later in this study we will show how Jesus spoke on church discipline that deals with more serious matters than a spec in my brother’s eye.
2). What we see here in 1 Corinthians 5 is a standard guide, a Scriptural example on how to deal with all sexual immorality in the Body of Christ, including homosexuality. I also believe it can be a standard for dealing with individuals and groups within the Body of Christ who are pro-abortion in their philosophy.
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