To Florus 2.40
Let us consider the third point, too, so that your generosity may be seen in your readiness to agree. ‘Nor does the apostle accuse the parents, insofar as they are parents, lawfully and legitimately joined to one another to produce children’ (Augustine, Marriage and Desire 2.45). Weigh what you have said: the apostle does not accuse the parents insofar as they are parents. He therefore declares that, insofar as they are parents, they cannot bear fruit for the devil, and that nothing coming from them insofar as they are parents belongs to the devil. Children, however, belong to parents precisely insofar as they are parents. Children are therefore proved neither guilty, nor under the devil’s kingdom, nor liable to accusation by the devil. To make our point clear by repetition: the union of the sexes contributes to offspring insofar as the married people become parents. If, however, they choose to behave more wantonly with one another, or stray into unlawful adulterous intercourse, that cannot concern their children, who are born from the power of seed, not from the obscenity of vices.
Latin
Consideremus et tertium, quo benignitas tua in acquiescendi facilitate cernatur. Neque parentes, in quantum parentes sunt invicem licite atque legitime ad procreandos filios coniugati, Apostolus arguit [n47] . Expende quid dixeris, non argui ab Apostolo parentes, in quantum parentes sunt. Ideo ergo eos, in quantum parentes sunt, non posse diabolo fructificare, nec de his aliquid, in quantum parentes sunt, ad diabolum pertinere pronuntiat; filii autem in tantum pertinent ad parentes, in quantum parentes sunt; igitur nec rei, nec sub regno diaboli, nec arguendi a diabolo comprobantur. Ut enim hoc quod diximus, repetitione clarescat: In tantum sexuum coniunctio suboli participat, in quantum qui coniuges sunt, fiunt parentes; si autem aliquid inter se voluerint agere petulantius, vel per illicitos adulteriorum aberrare concubitus, hoc ad filios non potest attinere, qui de vi seminum, non de vitiorum obscaenitate nascuntur.
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.