To Florus 2.205
If you uphold the truth of the apostle’s words and do not think he lied shamelessly, explain how this statement would not bring on him the disgrace of public falsehood if he were speaking about natural sin. If original sin existed, making absolutely all human nature belong to the devil’s jurisdiction, where would there be room even to make the numbers on the two sides equal—those saved and those perishing? In the Gospel, when the Lord showed how few are blessed, he said: ‘How narrow and constricted is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it (Matthew 7:14)! How broad and spacious is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it!’ (Matthew 7:13–14).
Latin
Si veritatem Apostoli verbis vindicas nec eum impudenter putas fuisse mentitum, doce, quemadmodum de naturali peccato dicenti haec sententia non incutiat publicae falsitatis pudorem. Nam si esset originale peccatum, quod omnem omnino naturam hominum ad ius diaboli faceret pertinere, qui erat locus ad aequiparandum partium numerum, eorum videlicet qui salvantur, et illorum qui intereunt? In Evangelio Dominus, cum beatorum ostenderet raritatem: Quam arta et angusta - inquit - via, quae ducit ad vitam, et pauci sunt, qui inveniunt eam! Quam lata et spatiosa via, quae ducit ad perditionem, et multi sunt, qui intrant per eam! [n331]
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.