<P> The "eschatological ideology" of martyrdom was based on an irony found in the Pauline epistles: "to live outside of Christ is to die, and to die in Christ is to live ." In Ad Martyras, Tertullian writes that some Christians "eagerly desired it" (et ultro appetita) martyrdom . </P> <P> The martyr homilies were written in ancient Greek by authors such as Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Asterius of Amasea, John Chrysostom and Hesychius of Jerusalem . These homilies were part of the hagiographical tradition of saints and martyrs . </P> <P> This experience, and the associated martyrs and apologists, would have significant historical and theological consequences for the developing faith . </P> <P> Among other things, persecution sparked the devotion of the saints, facilitated the rapid growth and spread of Christianity, prompted defenses and explanations of Christianity (the "apologies") and, in its aftermath, raised fundamental questions about the nature of the church . </P>

Which statement describes the religious believes of early romans