Paul's 'beasts at Ephesus' refers to hostile, pagan people who opposed him, not to literal wild animals in an arena.
Les says Paul was not talking about the beasts in the Colosseum. He was talking about the population in general at Ephesus, who had been so pagan and fervent for Diana that Paul fled for his life. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 15:32 what advantage his fight would be if the dead do not rise.
1 Corinthians 15:32 — This is the exact verse where Paul says he fought with beasts at Ephesus and attaches the question directly to the resurrection.
In 1 Corinthians 15:32, Paul asks, "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die." The verse sits in Paul's argument for the resurrection of the dead: Paul names his deadly conflict at Ephesus as the kind of experience that would be meaningless if the dead are not raised. Acts 19 records the scene Paul is referring to. When Paul's preaching stirred opposition among the idolatrous Ephesians, the city rose up. The crowd cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians," and the whole city was filled with confusion. They caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's companions, and rushed with one accord into the theater. When Paul wanted to enter, the disciples would not permit him, and friendly officers of Asia sent word desiring him not to risk going into the theater.
Les explicitly teaches that Paul's phrase "beasts at Ephesus" was not about the Colosseum. He says Paul was talking about the population in general at Ephesus, which had been so pagan and so fervent for Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians, that Paul literally, as Les puts it, "I think, fled for his life." Les connects this to the Acts 19 riot, where idolatrous Ephesians cried "Great is Diana of the Ephesians," filled the city with confusion, and Paul's friends urged him not to enter the theater. He also notes that Paul left Ephesus under terrible persecution and pressure because of the silversmiths, and then became deathly sick. Les describes Paul as under constant attack from adversaries within the church as well as without, and he catalogs the beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, and perils from Jews and heathen that Paul endured for the sake of the Gospel.
No. Les says Paul "wasn't talking about the beasts in the Colosseum." He was talking about the population in general at Ephesus, who had been so pagan and so fervent in their worship of Diana that Paul literally, Les believes, fled for his life.
Acts 19 records that the idolatrous Ephesians were full of wrath and cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." The whole city was filled with confusion, and the mob caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's companions, and rushed into the theater. Paul's disciples would not let him enter, and certain chief officers of Asia who were his friends sent word desiring him not to go into the theater.
In 1 Corinthians 15:32, Paul asks, "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not?" His point is that if the dead do not rise, there is no advantage in enduring such conflict and suffering for the Gospel.
Les recounts that Paul was beaten with rods, stoned and dragged out of a city as though dead, shipwrecked three times, and in perils from waters, robbers, his own countrymen, and the heathen. Les also says the Jews pursued him from city to city because the Gospel message created hatred rather than emulation, making him enemies wherever he went.
Why Paul Said "I Die Daily" — 1 Corinthians 15:31 Explained
Dying Daily is that he has to constantly keep old Adam in subjection. He has to put him to death. In fact, let's go back to Romans, because that's where he makes it so plain. And, you know, Paul's writings all fit together. They all dovetail. In Romans chapter 6, verse 13, I think is sufficient.
Paul's Catalog of Sufferings
Les highlights Paul's beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, and perils from Jews and Romans, showing the kind of hostility behind his words.
Enemies Everywhere
Les explains that the Jews pursued Paul from city to city because the Gospel created hatred rather than emulation.
The Beasts Are People, Not Arena Animals
Les directly teaches that Paul's 'beasts at Ephesus' refers to the pagan Ephesian population, not to animals in the Colosseum, and that Paul fled for his life in their fervor for Diana.
Paul's Vision of Heaven & the Jerusalem Council Explained
And when there was an assault made, both of the Gentiles and also the Jews and their rulers to use them despitefully and to stone them, they were aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe. Well then they go on up to the next little town, which is Lystra, and much the same thing happens and then you come down to verse 19. Like I said, I'm skimming a lot of this for sake of time.
The Ephesian Mob in Acts 19
Les recounts the riot when idolatrous Ephesians cried 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians' and Paul's friends stopped him from entering the theater.
Constant Attack Inside and Outside the Church
Les describes Paul on a sickbed after escaping Ephesus, under constant attack from adversaries within the church as well as without.
Severe Persecution and Sickness After Ephesus
Les notes that Paul left Ephesus under terrible persecution and pressure from the silversmiths and then became deathly sick, showing the severity of the opposition.
1 Corinthians 15:32: If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
This is the verse where Paul uses the phrase 'beasts at Ephesus' and ties it directly to the resurrection.
Acts 19:28: And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
This records the angry reaction of the idolatrous Ephesians to Paul's preaching.
Acts 19:29: And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
This shows the city-wide mob action that threatened Paul and his companions in Ephesus.
Acts 19:30: And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
This shows how Paul's disciples protected him from entering the hostile mob in the theater.
Acts 19:31: And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
This shows that even friendly officials of Asia warned Paul not to risk going into the theater.
No. Les teaches that Paul was not referring to beasts in the Colosseum. He was referring to the pagan population at Ephesus who had been so fervent for Diana that Paul fled for his life.
According to Les, the 'beasts at Ephesus' were the people of Ephesus who opposed Paul because of their devotion to the goddess Diana. Their hostility and persecution were so severe that Paul had to flee the city.
Paul uses the phrase in a passage about the resurrection. He asks what advantage his fight with the beasts at Ephesus would be if the dead do not rise, showing that his suffering would be meaningless without resurrection.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Said "I Die Daily" — 1 Corinthians 15:31 Explained