Christianity was not a rebellious religion. It did not urge the poor and the oppressed towards revolutionary struggle, but comforted them with future salvation.  They tried to avoid conflict with secular authorities, yet they confronted the ruling class and the state as a result of their life-style and their belief that wealth was the source of all evil.

Persecution, however, was neither continuous nor consistent and hence failed to prevent the spread of Christianity.  More and more of the well-off joined the congregations as a result of having witnessed the suffering of the free people of the country.  Gradually the emphasis given to the different Chistian tenets changed.  They did not wait for the “final judgment”, but instead preached forgiveness and endurance.  Instead of redistributing wealth, they found giving alms to be enough. 

Two trends had emerged within Christianity: some groups stuck to the radical rejection of wealth, power and state; while the wealthier and more influential congregations tried to come to terms with state power and the existing social order.  Those in favour of this latter trend considered the followers of the older trend heretical.