Caesarius of Arles : Since we have been set free from the power of the devil through the grace of Christ and without any preceding merits of our own, dearest brothers, let us try as hard as we can, with his help, always to engage in good works, fearing what the apostle Peter proclaims in these terrible words. — SERMONS 175.5 Hilary of Arles : It is always worse to sin knowingly than to sin in ignorance. — INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER Leo the Great : But in this mercifulness of God, dearly beloved, the greatness of which towards us we cannot explain, Christians must be extremely careful lest they be caught again in the devil's wiles and once more entangled in the errors which they have renounced. For the old enemy does not cease to "transform himself into an angel of light," and spread everywhere the snares of his deceptions, and make every effort to corrupt the faith of believers. He knows whom to ply with the zest of greed, whom to assail with the allurements of the belly, before whom to set the attractions of self-indulgence, in whom to instil the poison of jealousy: he knows whom to overwhelm with grief, whom to cheat with joy, whom to surprise with fear, whom to bewilder with wonderment. — SERMONS 27.3 Oecumenius : For if, after having fled from the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled and overcome, the latter end has become worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. "For if, after having fled." In the present discourse, Peter strives to establish two things: that it is necessary for the one who is overcome to serve the one by whom he is overcome; and that those who, after the recognition of the Truth, embrace again the former things, fall into worse conditions than the evil things they previously experienced. He also adds a proverb for support. Therefore, the entire discourse should be arranged in this way: For if, after the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they have fled from the pollutions of the world, and are again entangled and overcome by them, they certainly serve them, and in their servitude they experience worse things than before the knowledge, greatly aided by our adversary Satan, so that they may be dragged down to worse in repayment for their former termination from evil deeds. Therefore, the Apostle also says that since this happens to them, that they sing a retractation of evils, it would have been better for them not to have known the truth at all than to be captured by worse things after they having known it. — Commentary on 2 Peter Salvian the Presbyter : Look what the apostle Peter has to say about Christians who live in the mire and impurities of this world. — ON THE GOVERNANCE OF GOD 4.19