To Florus 2.72
Let us also examine what follows. ‘But sin was not reckoned,’ the apostle says, ‘when there was no law’ (Romans 5:13). You then add: ‘It therefore existed but was not reckoned, as he says elsewhere: “Through the law comes knowledge of sin”’ (Romans 3:20; Augustine, Marriage and Desire 2.46). If, then, knowledge of sin came through the law, and the sin of inherited transmission was not imputed before the law, show that it was imputed under the law. If through the law came knowledge of sin, and before the law there was ignorance of sin, there can be no doubt that a chief reason for promulgating the law was to expose, and enable people to avoid, what had previously been hidden.
Latin
Verum videamus et reliqua. Peccatum autem non deputabatur, ait Apostolus, cum lex non esset [n112] ; post quod tu subdis: Erat ergo, sed non deputabatur, sicut alibi dicit: " Per legem cognitio peccati " [n113] . Si ergo per legem peccati est facta cognitio et peccatum traducis ante legem non imputabatur, ostende hoc imputatum fuisse sub lege. Nam si per legem peccati cognitio, ante legem ignoratio peccati, ambigi non potest hanc fuisse causam maximam promulgandae legis, ut proderetur et caveretur, quod prius latebat.
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.