Defining Orthodoxy in the Early Church

For one understanding of Christianity to defeat rival views, it would need to have the following:

  1. an ancient pedigree
  2. a sizeable following
  3. persuasive communication tools
  4. an effective enforcement mechanism
The church of Rome had the first three by the third century, and it gained the fourth when Constantine became emperor in the early fourth century.

What were the persuasive communication tools that helped distinguish the orthodox from heretics?