Why was Paul preparing the Corinthians for martyrdom in his letters?
Paul prepared the Corinthians for martyrdom because they were freshly converted out of paganism and would soon face intense persecution from the Roman Empire. He wanted them ready to die for their faith, as the apostles already had and as Paul himself would within a few years after writing.
Les explains that Paul was writing to believers who had not yet endured the trials, tribulations, and persecutions he had. In 1 Corinthians 4:10-11, Paul contrasts himself with the Corinthians: “we are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise; we are weak, you are strong.” Les suggests that because these people were just freshly converted out of paganism, they would soon come under the intense persecution that the Roman Empire brought upon Christianity. Therefore, even here Paul was trying to prepare them for the time when they would have to literally die for their faith, just as the apostles had already done and as Paul would within a few years after writing this letter. The surrounding verses describe Paul’s own hardships—hunger, thirst, nakedness, being buffeted, having no certain dwelling place, laboring with his own hands as a tentmaker, being reviled, persecuted, defamed, and treated as the filth of the world—showing the kind of suffering he was preparing them to face.
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
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