Note 21 at 2Co 11:30: This word "infirmity" can refer to sickness or frailty, but it can also mean "a failing or defect in a person's character" (American Heritage Dictionary) (see note 3 at Ro 8:26). In this context, it is easy to see that Paul was not referring to sickness but rather to persecution (see note 17 at 2Co 11:27). This becomes very important in discerning his "thorn in the flesh" of 2Co 12:7 (see my notes at 2Co 12:7).