To Florus 1.105
For if justice imputes only what one is free to abstain from, and before baptism there is a necessity of evil, since the will, as you said, is not free to do good and consequently can do nothing but evil, then the very necessity it suffers defends it against the disgrace of evil. It cannot be burdened with its deeds before that justice which imputes no evil except what one is free to abstain from. After baptism, however, if there is a necessity of good, there certainly cannot be any sin. See, then, how impossible it is to find in seed what reason shows sin to be, when according to your definitions it can no longer be found even in conduct.
Latin
Nam si non imputat iustitia, nisi unde liberum est abstinere; et ante Baptisma necessitas mali est, quoniam voluntas, sicut dixisti, ad faciendum bonum non est libera, perque hoc aliud agere non potest nisi malum; ab infamia mali ipsa quam patitur necessitate defenditur; quoniam apud eam iustitiam gravari operibus suis non potest, quae non imputat malum, nisi a quo liberum est abstinere. Post Baptisma autem, si necessitas boni est, nullum utique potest esse peccatum. Vide igitur quam illud quod esse peccatum ratio demonstrat, inveniri nequeat in seminibus, quando secundum definitiones tuas iam nec in moribus invenitur.
About this text
Julian’s six preserved books to Florus, quoted section by section in Augustine’s unfinished reply. Augustine’s refutations are omitted. Latin of Julian’s words is on each section.
Julian’s own books do not survive as a separate manuscript. English follows his words as Augustine quotes them in the Unfinished Work Against Julian. Augustine’s replies are omitted. We do not restore a Julian text independent of Augustine.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Unfinished Work Against Julian (Latin · Julian’s words as quoted, Books 1–6)
- Checked print Augustinus.it Latin of the Unfinished Work (Latin · Same work)
- Checked print Migne PL 45 (Latin · Hard cases)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.