To Florus 1.123
Evil is therefore not inherent in nature, and God cannot create guilty people or place them in the devil's kingdom. These conclusions show you to be a Manichaean, indeed worse than a Manichaean. They also make clear that humanity enters this world without sin, that the fruit of human fertility is under God's authority rather than the devil's, and that nature is innocent.
Latin
Nec malum itaque naturale est, nec Deus creare reos potest, nec in regno diaboli collocare. Quibus collectis et tu Manichaeus, immo Manichaeo peior ostenderis; et sine peccato in hunc mundum humanitatis ingressus, et sub iure Dei, non diaboli, fructus fecunditatis, et naturalis innocentia claruerunt.
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.