From F.F. Bruce: "The Spreading Flame"

The Spreading Flame, by F.F. Bruce,  page 185: The Growing Day: Epilogue

Christianity was organized for catastrophe....

The Story of the Christian Church of the first three centuries is largely a commentary on this. In the fiercest of tribulations Christianity proved its capacity for survival, and not for mere survival, but for actual victory. And the victory was won by spiritual weapons alone.