Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 5:3

"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," — 1 Corinthians 5:3 (ASV)

Paul again alludes to the pride of the Corinthians. This time it was a pride that, rather than causing them to mourn over the shocking sin, allowed them to tolerate such a sinner in their midst. Paul presses his judgment of the case by saying that he is with them in spirit and has already passed judgment on the offending person.