To Florus 2.149
If he had meant anything like what you mean, he certainly ought to have said: ‘Through one man’ (Romans 5:19)s disobedience all were made sinners, but through Christ’s obedience some of these returned to righteousness.’ That is exactly how he should have spoken if he intended your invention to be understood. Yet with such a statement he could not also have asserted that Christ’s grace helped much more than Adam’s wickedness harmed. Even if, then, we had no idea at all what manner of conduct was meant by saying many were made sinners through one man’s disobedience, it would still remain firmly established that this does not concern original sin, since the apostle emphasized that it applies to many, not all (compare Romans 5:19).
Latin
Si enim, quale tu, tale aliquid ille sensisset, debuit utique dicere: Per unius inoboedientiam peccatores constituti sunt omnes, sed per oboedientiam Christi ex his aliqui ad iustitiam reverterunt. Ita enim prorsus ei loquendum fuerat, si hoc, quod tu fingis, voluisset intellegi. Verumtamen cum hac sententia illud aliud nequivisset asserere multo magis profuisse Christi gratiam, quam Adae laesisset iniquitas. Etsi ergo penitus nesciremus, qui mos esset, quo per inoboedientiam unius hominis multi peccatores constitui dicerentur, tamen maneret in solido non hoc pertinere ad originale peccatum, quod Apostolus inculcaverat multis, non omnibus convenire.
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.