To Florus 1.90
See how different the accounts of nature and will are. Jesus did not deny that their flesh belonged to Abraham's offspring. But he presses upon them that through an unjust will they had moved to the devil as their father, who is called their begetter because he is shown to be their teacher in crimes. “The Jews answered and said to him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham's children, you would do Abraham's works. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this; you do the works of your father’” (John 8:39–41). Do you see the distinctions Wisdom makes in its language? He denies that they are Abraham's children after saying above that they were Abraham's children. But because nature and will require different treatment, he shows that the ancestor of their innocent flesh is one person, and the deceiver of their wretched will another.
Latin
Vide quam diversa sit naturae ratio et voluntatis. Non negavit Iesus, carnem eorum pertinere ad semen Abrahae, sed inculcat eis, quod ad diabolum patrem voluntatis iniquitate migraverint; qui ideo genitor eorum dicitur, quod criminum arguitur eruditor. Responderunt, inquit, et dixerunt ei Iudaei: Pater noster Abraham est. Dicit eis Iesus: Si filii Abrahae essetis, opera Abrahae faceretis; nunc autem quaeritis me interficere, hominem qui veritatem locutus sum vobis, quam audivi a Deo; hoc Abraham non fecit, vos autem facitis opera patris vestri [n209] . Aspicisne quas faciat verborum divisiones Sapientia? Negat eos Abrahae filios esse, quos supra dixerat esse filios Abrahae; sed quoniam diversus est de natura ac voluntate tractatus, ostendit alterum esse prosatorem carnis innocuae, alterum seductorem miserae voluntatis.
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.