To Florus 1.50
Away with you, then, and this God of yours from the midst of the churches! He is not the one in whom the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles believed, in whom the church of the firstborn enrolled in heaven has hoped and still hopes (Hebrews 12:23). He is not the one whom rational creatures believe to be their judge, whom the Holy Spirit declares will judge justly. No sensible person would ever have shed his blood for such a Lord. He would not deserve the affection of love that could place on anyone the burden of suffering for him. Finally, if the one you introduce existed anywhere, he would be proved a defendant, not a god: someone to be judged by my true God, not someone to judge in God's place.
Learn, then, the first foundations of faith. Our God, the God of the catholic Church, is unknown to us in his substance and likewise beyond our sight, “whom no human being has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16) (Hebrews 12:26–27). As he is eternal without beginning, so he is holy and just without fault: supremely powerful, supremely fair, supremely merciful, made known only by the radiance of his virtues. He is the maker of all that did not exist, the ruler of all that exists, and on the last day the examiner of all who exist, will exist, or have existed. He will shake earth, heaven, and all the elements together; he will raise the ashes and restore bodies. But everything we have named he will do for justice alone (compare Hebrews 12:26–27; John 5:28–29) (Hebrews 12:26–27; John 5:28–29).
Latin
Amolire te itaque cum tali Deo tuo de Ecclesiarum medio; non est ipse, cui Patriarchae, cui Prophetae, cui Apostoli crediderunt, in quo speravit et sperat Ecclesia primitivorum, quae conscripta est in caelis [n74] ; non est ipse quem credit iudicem rationabilis creatura; quem Spiritus Sanctus iuste iudicaturum esse denuntiat. Nemo prudentium, pro tali Domino suum umquam sanguinem fudisset; nec enim merebatur dilectionis affectum, ut suscipiendae pro se onus imponeret passionis. Postremo iste quem inducis, si esset uspiam, reus convinceretur esse, non deus; iudicandus a vero Deo meo, non iudicaturus pro Deo. Ut igitur prima fidei fundamenta cognoscas: noster Deus, Ecclesiae catholicae Deus, substantia nobis ignotus est, et ab aspectu similiter remotus; quem vidit nemo hominum, nec videre potest [n75] ; ut aeternus sine principio, ita sanctus iustusque sine vitio; omnipotentissimus, aequissimus, misericordissimus, innotescens solo splendore virtutum; factor omnium quae non erant, dispensator eorum quae sunt, examinator cunctorum qui et sunt et futuri sunt et fuerunt, in ultimo die; terram, caelum, et cuncta simul elementa moturus; excitator cinerum, et corporum restitutor; sed propter solam iustitiam, haec quae diximus, cuncta facturus.
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.