The apologetic writings of the early church present a paradox; the apologists argue against the injustice of persecution merely for the name of Christian. They call for the cessation of persecution and for tolerance for Christianity. Yet the New Testament presents persecution for the Name of Christ as an inevitable result of the essential confession of that Name. Furthermore, to be persecuted as a Christian is to be blessed. Tertullian uniquely addresses this paradox by presenting a coherent theology of persecution, arguing that persecution is both inevitable and good, but only if Christians are persecuted for the right reasons.