To Florus 2.44
With what effrontery, then, do you add: ‘But through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin; and so it passed into all human beings, in whom all sinned’ (Romans 5:12)? You interpret this to mean that the apostle says sin was transmitted from that man to his descendants by generation (Augustine, Marriage and Desire 2.45). Above, you had conceded that the Teacher of the Gentiles does not accuse marriage, which God blessed; that no will to sin exists in the newborn child; and that parents, insofar as they are parents, are lawfully and legitimately united to produce children. Immediately you add, as though you had said the earlier things in your sleep, that guilt is transmitted to descendants by generation. If they beget only insofar as they are parents, and insofar as they are parents are lawfully and legitimately united, and this union is not disapproved by the apostle because God not only instituted but also blessed it, with what mouth, by what rule, with what effrontery do you maintain that this generation is the cause of guilt, a root of crimes, and the devil’s slave?
Latin
Qua igitur fronte subiungis: Sed " per unum hominem peccatum in mundum intravit, et per peccatum mors; et ita in omnes homines pertransiit, in quo omnes peccaverunt [n49] "? Quod interpretaris hoc modo, ut peccatum ab illo dicat Apostolus generatione in posteros fuisse transmissum [n50] . Supra concesseras Magistrum Gentium nuptias, quibus Deus benedixerat, nihil accusare; voluntatem ad peccandum in nascente non esse; parentes autem, in quantum parentes sunt, licite sibi legitimeque ad procreandos filios coniugari; et addis illico, quasi dormiens priora dixisses, crimen ad posteros generatione transmitti. Si enim in tantum generant, in quantum parentes sunt; in quantum autem parentes sunt, licite sibi et legitime iunguntur; et haec coniunctio ab Apostolo non improbatur, quia a Deo non solum instituta, verum etiam benedicta est; quo ore, qua lege, qua fronte, hanc generationem reatus causam, radice criminum, servam diaboli, esse confirmas?
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.