Note 21 at 2 Cor. 11:30: This word "infirmity" can refer to sickness or frailty, but it can also mean "a character failing or weak point; a lack or inadequacy" (New American Heritage Dictionary-see note 3 at Rom. 8:26, p. 799). In this context, it is easy to see that Paul is not referring to sickness, but rather to persecution (see note 17 at v. 27, above). This becomes very important in discerning his "thorn in the flesh" of 2 Corinthians 12:7 (see note at 2 Cor. 12:7).