<p>5:3 <em>For I truly, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him that has done this thing</em>- There was a Spirit gift of knowledge which resulted in Paul being as it were virtually present; he was not therefore judging from a distance on the basis of gossip. Hence he can write in :4 that &quot;when you are gathered together (and my spirit is present with you when you do)&quot;. And he alludes to the same phenomenon in 2 Cor. 13:2 &quot;I tell you as if I were present&quot;. This ability to be virtually present is used supremely by the Lord, whose presence is to be found in our lives and where two or three are gathered together. If Paul knew this case by the Spirit and was spiritually present in their gatherings to discuss the matter; how much more the Lord Himself.</p>