- ἀσθένεια
- ἀσθένεια, ας, ἡ (σθένος ‘strength’, s. next entry; Hdt., Thu.+)① a state of debilitating illness, sickness, disease (X., Mem. 4, 2, 32; Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 16 §65; Herodian 1, 4, 7; pap; 2 Macc 9:21f; Jos., Bell. 1, 76, Ant. 15, 359) Ac 5:15 D; w. νόσος Mt 8:17; ἔχειν ἀ. be ill Ac 28:9; ἀσθένειαν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτῶν ἐπισπῶνται Hv 3, 9, 3; θεραπεύεσθαι ἀπὸ τῶν ἀ. Lk 5:15. For this ἀπολύεσθαι τῆς ἀ. 13:12; ἔτη ἔχειν ἐν ἀ. (s. ἔτος end) J 5:5, cp. 11:4; Hs 6, 3, 4. διʼ ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκός because of a bodily ailment (Persaeus [III B.C.]: 584 Fgm. 3a Jac. διὰ τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἀσθένειαν; Dio Chrys. 28 [45], 1 σώματος ἀσθ., likew. Ael. Aristid. 27, 2 K.=16 p. 382 D.—PLond III, 971, 4 p. 128 [III/IV A.D.] ἀδύνατος γάρ ἐστιν ἡ γυνὴ διὰ ἀσθένιαν τῆς φύσεως, cp. also PFlor 51, 5 σωματικῆς ἀσθενείας) Gal 4:13. ἀσθένειαι (pl., as 2 Cor 12:5, 9f) times of weakness, weaknesses 1 Ti 5:23. Caused by hostile spirits, the πνεύματα ἀσθενείας Lk 8:2; 13:11.② incapacity for someth. or experience of limitation, weaknessⓐ gener., Hv 3, 11, 4; 3, 12, 2. Opp. δύναμις (Diod S 4, 8, 3: many do not believe the writers of history when they relate the marvelous deeds of one like Heracles, because they judge the δύναμις of the divine hero in comparison with the ἀσθένεια of contemporary pers.) of inability to function as effectively as one might wish 1 Cor 15:43. δυναμοῦσθαι ἀπὸ ἀ. come out of weakness to strength Hb 11:34. In Paul’s ἀ., which appears in τὰ τῆς ἀ. μου 2 Cor 11:30 or αἱ ἀσθένειαι (s. 1 above) 12:5, 9f, all of which suggest ineffectualness, God’s δύναμις manifests itself 12:9 (s. τελέω 1 end), thus in effect converting displays of weakness into heroic performance.ⓑ gener., of the frailty to which all human flesh is heir (Pla., Leg. 854a ἀ. τ. ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως; Diod S 1, 2, 3 ἡ τῆς φύσεως ἀ.; 13, 24, 4 and 6; Orig., C. Cels. 3, 42, 11; Did., Gen. 55, 19) of Christ (Orig., C. Cels. 3, 42, 11) ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀ. (opp. ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ) he was crucified as a result of his weakness (his vulnerability as a human being) 2 Cor 13:4. περίκειται ἀσθένειαν Hb 5:2. For this ἀ. ἔχειν 7:28.③ lack of confidence or feeling of inadequacy, weakness. Of Paul’s self-effacement, timidity (w. φόβος and τρόμος) 1 Cor 2:3. Of a sense of helplessness (Paul’s friends wish that Paul would remain with them ‘because of their weakness’, i.e. they cannot get along without him) AcPl Ha 6, 36. Of weakness in judgment (cp. Orig., C. Cels. 1, 9, 22) τῆς σαρκός Ro 6:19. Of lack of spiritual insight 8:26. Of moral deficiency 1 Cl 36:1; Hm 4, 3, 4. συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀ. sympathize w. weaknesses Hb 4:15.—MBarré, CBQ 42, ’80, 216–27 (background of persecution in Qumran).—DELG s.v. σθένος. M-M. TW.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.