To Florus 2.147
Christ’s grace also reaches the innocent, whom Adam’s fault does not reach. That is why he carefully emphasized: ‘Much more did God’s grace and the gift of the one man Jesus Christ abound to more people’ (Romans 5:15). The earlier comparison of equals thus indicates imitation in opposite pursuits among people old enough to use reason; this preference for grace’s generosity, however, establishes that the innocent are consecrated and advanced. Since this is so, recognize that the apostle opposes you, not me; understand that he bears arms against you. Even if everything else were lacking, this one point would powerfully overthrow your doctrine and that of your teacher Faustus, by whom you received your first coloring, so to speak: he says that through one man’s disobedience many, not all, were made sinners, and through one man’s obedience not all but many were made righteous (Romans 5:19). To make the reader understand carefully how this statement opposes you: the apostle declares that not all were made sinners through Adam. You say that absolutely all belong to the devil’s jurisdiction through Adam by natural sin. There can be no doubt of the great conflict between you and the apostle.
Latin
Pervenire autem et ad innocentes gratiam Christi, ad quos Adae culpa non pervenit, propter quod vigilanter inculcavit: Multo magis gratia Dei et donum unius hominis Iesu Christi in plures abundavit [n203] , ut illa superior coaequatio eius aetatis, quae ratione utitur, in contrariis studiis indicet imitationem, haec autem in gratiae largitate praelatio consecratos et provectos approbet innocentes. Quae cum ita sint, tibi, non mihi Apostolum obviare senti, contra te eum arma ferre cognoscito, qui dogma tuum praeceptorisque tui Fausti, a quo es velut prima manu tinctus, hoc uno, si cetera deessent, vehementer everteret, quia dicit per unius inoboedientiam multos, non omnes peccatores constitutos fuisse et per unius oboedientiam iustos non omnes constitutos fuisse, sed multos. Ut enim diligenter, quam tibi sermo hic repugnet, lectoris intellegentiae suggeratur, Apostolus pronuntiat non omnes per Adam peccatores constitutos fuisse, tu dicis omnes omnino per Adam peccato naturali ad ius diaboli pertinere; ambigi non potest inter te et Apostolum magnam esse pugnam.
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.