Weaknesses (769) (astheneia from a = without + sthénos = strength, bodily vigor) means literally without strength or bodily vigor = want of strength = lacking strength. Literally astheneia refers to bodily diseases or ailments (Lk 5:15, 13:11, 12, Jn 5:5, 11:4, 28:9). Another meaning of astheneia is incapacity to do or experience something, an inability to produce results, a state of weakness or limitation (1Co 15:43; 2Co 11:30; 12:5, 9, 10, 13:4; Ro 8:27; Heb 4:15; 5:2; 7:28; 11:34) Paul's use in 1Co 2:3 conveys the sense of weakness in terms of courage. Richards writes... This group of words expresses powerlessness. The weak are without strength, incapacitated in some serious way. (Expository Dictionary) NIDNTT writes that this group of words (astheneia [noun], astheneo [verb], asthenes [adjective]) is formed from its opposite sthenos, strength, with the Alpha-privative prefixed. It conveys the meaning of powerlessness, weakness, lack of strength, and includes particularly the verb astheneo (Eur., Thuc.), the noun astheneia (Hdt., Thuc.) and the adjective asthenes (Pindar, Hdt.). All three denote primarily bodily weakness, i.e. sickness (Hdt., 4, 135; cf. also Josephus, War 1, 76), and overlap here with the specific meaning of nosos (state of being diseased = a malady, disease, sickness). In more general contexts, the astheneia word-group can be used in a wider sense as the opposite of dunamis, power (Might), or ischuros, strong, to express other sorts of weakness, e.g. the frailty of woman, the weakness of human nature (Plato, Leges 854a), or of human life (Hdt., 2, 47; 8, 51), but also economic weakness, i.e. lack of influence, or poverty (Hdt., 2, 88). Only rarely is it used for lack of conviction, moral weakness (Ed: but see use in Heb 5:2) (Thuc., 2, 61, 2; Epictetus, Dissertationes 1, 8, 8; cf. Aristotle, Eth. Nic. 1150b 19). Here are the 24 uses of astheneia in 23 verses -- ailments(1), diseases(1), illness(1), infirmities(1), sickness(4), sicknesses(2),weak(1), weakness(8), weaknesses(4), what weakness(1)... Matthew 8:17 in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases." (Quote from Isa 53:4) Comment: To help understand the meaning of infirmities (astheneia) in this context refer to John MacArthur's message What Keeps Men from Christ? Luke 5:15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and great multitudes were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Luke 8:2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Luke 13:11 And behold, there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12 And when Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your sickness." John 5:5 And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. John 11:4 But when Jesus heard it, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Acts 28:9 And after this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. Romans 6:19-note I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Comment: Paul uses astheneia figuratively to describe human frailty and weakness in itself. Newman and Nida write that "Paul’s use of the phrase the weakness of your natural selves is not intended here to have moral or ethical implications; it is only a reference to the fact that he believes these people incapable of understanding profound truths unless he uses analogies from everyday life... it may be necessary to qualify “weakness” as “weakness of your understanding” or “weakness of the way in which you, as just a human being, understand things.” (A Handbook on Paul's letter to the Romans. UBS Handbook Series) Romans 8:26-note And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Comment: In this verse the meaning of astheneia is not physical infirmity but spiritual weakness. The weakness is defined by the context which speaks of prayer, one of the things in the spiritual realm in which our weakness needs His power. The weakness in context is the inability of the saint to know what to pray for. Yes, we know the general objects of prayer, but we do not know the specific, detailed objects of prayer in a given emergency or situation. Denney says it this way... Broadly speaking, we do know what we are to pray for—the perfecting of salvation, but we do not know what we are to pray for according to what is necessary—according as the need is at the moment; we know the end, which is common to all prayers, but not what is necessary at each crisis of need in order to enable us to attain this end. (Expositor's Greek Testament) 1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 1 Corinthians 15:43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power Comment: MacArthur writes that... Our present bodies are characterized by weakness. We are weak not only in physical strength and endurance but also in resistance to disease and harm Despite the marvelous natural protective mechanisms of the human body, no one is immune from breaking a bone, cutting a leg, catching various infections, and eventually from dying. We can and should minimize unnecessary dangers and risks to our bodies, which for believers are temples of the Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19, 20). But we cannot completely protect them from harm, much less from death. Our earthly “temples” are inescapably temporary and fragile. 2 Corinthians 11:30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 13:4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. Comment: “He was crucified because of weakness” means in respect of the physical sufferings to which Christ voluntarily submitted in giving Himself up to the death of the cross. MacArthur adds that "The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the unmistakable and supreme evidence of His weakness. His human nature was so weak as to be fully susceptible to death." Galatians 4:13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 1Timothy 5:23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. Comment: In a secular Greek writing we find the text of a memorandum requesting the purchase of a jar of wine according to the doctor’s orders! Hebrews 4:15-note For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Comment: Weaknesses in context refers to all the natural limitations of humanity (moral and physical), which undermine our resistance to temptation and make it difficult for us to keep from sinning. Hebrews 5:2-note he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset (The priest himself has weakness lying around him like a chain) with weakness; Comment: Weakness in context of referring to Aaron speaks of moral weakness which makes men capable of sinning. In other words, weakness in this context is virtually synonymous with the totally depraved nature, the moral weakness which makes men capable of sin. Hebrews 7:28-note For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. Comment: Hebrews 11:34-note quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. There are 5 uses of astheneia in the Septuagint (LXX) - Ps 15:4; Eccl 12:4; Job 37:7; Jer 6:21; 18:23 Barnhouse in his massive exposition of Romans reiterates the importance of a proper understanding of ministry out of our weakness rather than out of our supposed "power"... "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). How many Christians read it, "Without me you cannot do very much," cling to their own imagined ability, and so fail to bear fruit! God never mingles His power with ours. Only when we recognize our own absolute nothingness does He work in full power. Paul learned this when he asked for deliverance from his "thorn in the flesh." The Lord replied, "My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (Romans) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2corinthians_1210_commentary.htm#w