To Florus 6.33
The outstanding teacher built his argument with great force and gave us hope through our shared condition with the Mediator. He maintained that this man, as regards the substance by which he is joined to us, possessed no exemption, and that the opinion adopted by unbelief could prejudice Christ no less than us. He therefore joins Christ’s case and humanity’s so closely that what is judged in one must necessarily be believed in the other.
At that time people had thought there would be no resurrection of the dead, yet they did not deny that Christ had risen. The Teacher of the Gentiles seizes this and pronounces that both sides must be open to the same judgment: either all humans are to rise, or Christ must be believed not to have risen. The apostle certainly would not have this argumentative force if, according to the Manichaeans and their disciples who teach inherited sin, he separated Christ’s flesh from participation in our nature (1 Corinthians 15:12–17).
Latin
Instruxit acerrime disputationem magister egregius, et spem nobis de consortio Mediatoris ingessit, asserens illum hominem, quantum spectat ad substantiam qua nobis iungitur, nihil exceptum habuisse, opinionemque quam infidelitas sciscebat, non minus Christo praeiudicare posse quam nobis. Sic ergo miscet negotium Christi et hominum, ut necesse sit in utraque parte credi, quod in altera censeatur. Opinati quippe fuerant per idem tempus homines, quia resurrectio mortuorum futura non esset; non tamen resurrexisse Christum negabant. Arripit hoc Magister Gentium, et pronuntiat necesse esse ut uni praeiudicio pars utraque sit pervia, et aut omnes homines resurrecturi, aut nec Christus resurrexisse credatur. Certe hanc vim in disputando Apostolus non haberet, si secundum Manichaeos et eorum discipulos Traducianos, carnem Christi a naturae nostrae communione distingueret.
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.