How could Paul judge the Corinthian sin if he wasn't there in person?
Paul could judge the Corinthian sin because, though absent in body, he was present in spirit. He had already reached a conclusion as though he were present concerning the one who did the deed. Whether he knew supernaturally or by report was beside the point; his spiritual presence allowed the judgment.
Les teaches that Paul was not going to let the matter slide. Paul says, “I verily as absent in body, but present in spirit.” He knew whether supernaturally or whether he got it by the grapevine, but that is beside the point. Even though he was not there in body, he was present in spirit. Paul says, “I have judged,” and he had come to a conclusion already as though he were present concerning him who had so done this deed. Paul says there is no room for argument; they had to deal with it. Les applies this to our own society, where the moral climate is falling away and the moral fiber is rotting. These same acts can take place in local churches and nobody thinks anything of it. People call from various states asking what to do when a couple are living in sin openly and walk in church as though nothing is amiss. Paul is dealing with gross immorality or gross covetousness; the church has to make a point of it and not just turn its eyes and say, “Let them live.” The remedy is to take this couple, confront them as a body of believers, and act in the name of the Lord Jesus when gathered together. It is a corporate thing.
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,
More Questions
How could Paul judge the man in Corinth if he was not there?
Paul taught that although he was absent in body, he was present in spirit, and on that basis he had already judged and reached a conclusion about the man who committed this deed.