To Florus 5.55
All who declare war on truth suffer this disgrace. Let us gather our result. The question is where that first evil will arose in a human being. We answer: from a movement of the mind under no compulsion. The objection asks whether it appeared in God’s work. We agree that this is true. We are asked how we do not deny that, although we deny natural sin. We answer: because this sin exists in God’s work from possibility, not necessity. Natural things, then, are necessary; possible things are voluntary.
Latin
Patiuntur hanc omnes ignominiam, qui indicunt veritati bellum. Nos ergo quod egimus colligamus. Quaeritur unde illa prima voluntas mala in homine fuerit exorta. Respondemus: A motu animi, cogente nullo. Obicitur: Si in opere Dei apparuit? Assentimur verum esse. Rogatur quomodo id non abnuamus, qui negamus naturale peccatum. Respondemus: Quia in opere Dei a possibili existit peccatum istud, non a necessario. Naturalia ergo necessaria sunt, possibilia autem voluntaria.
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.