Even though I’m not there with you physically, I am with you in spirit. And because I’m with you in spirit, in the name of our Lord Jesus I’ve already judged the man who’s doing this.
Even though I’m away from you in body, I’m with you in spirit, and I am glad to see that you’re well-disciplined and that your faith in Christ is so strong.
Brothers and sisters, when for a short time we were separated from you (in person, though we were still with you in our thoughts), we felt like parents who had lost their children. We wanted to see you so much that we tried very hard to do so.
I already warned you during my second visit, and I’ll say it again now while I’m away: When I return, I won’t spare those who sinned earlier. I won’t spare any of the others, either,
I appeal to you by the humbleness and gentleness of Christ—I, Paul, the one you think is timid when I’m face to face with you, but bold when I’m away from you.