To Florus 1.112
I therefore wonder that you dared to quote the testimony: “Whatever has overcome someone has made him its slave” (2 Peter 2:19). This most plainly supports us, who maintain that no one can be subject to the devil except someone who, after a contest of will, has been overcome by a base surrender. You should not have appropriated it, since it strongly opposes your attempt to persuade us that newborn children belong to the devil's kingdom. Without a will of their own, they could neither have been defeated nor have sinned.
Latin
Demiror itaque ausum te fuisse ponere testimonium, quo dicitur: A quo enim quis devictus est, huic et servus addictus est [n302] . Quod manifestissime pro nobis facit, asserentibus non posse quemquam obnoxium esse diabolo, nisi qui fuerit post certamen voluntatis degeneri deditione superatus. A te autem usurpari non debuit, cui vehementer repugnat, persuadenti in regno diaboli esse nascentes, qui sine voluntate propria nec vinci utique, nec peccare potuerunt.
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.