Prison epistles and other NT letters as evidence that suffering was a church-wide reality needing sustained pastoral address

Paul wrote letters from prison (prison epistles), encouraged others to suffer as he suffered, and repeatedly addressed his readers' grief over his suffering (e.g., Philippians). Romans 8 says Christians are more than conquerors even as they are being killed. 1 Peter 4 tells believers not to be surprised by persecution. Revelation letters to churches (e.g., Smyrna) exhort faithfulness unto death. Mike notes this material spans multiple authors, multiple locations, and multiple time periods, providing multiple attestation.