To Florus 6.35
Let us turn this force against inherited sin and say: If Christ, who became human, had no natural sin, how do some among you say inborn depravity rules God’s image? If evil exists in nature, Christ too, found in that same nature, is placed under the devil’s kingdom. If he is believed guilty, our preaching is empty and your faith is empty. The apostles are found false witnesses, because they testified against God that he formed his Son innocent and holy, from David’s seed according to the flesh (Romans 1:3), if the crime of cursed seed infected him. Certainly, if we hope in such a Christ, we are more pitiable than all people (compare 1 Corinthians 15:12–19).
But now Christ, no less truly human than truly God, generated from Adam’s stock, made from a woman and made under the law (Galatians 4:4), committed no sin and therefore had no sin (1 Peter 2:22). It is therefore clear that guilt belongs to will, not reproductive seed (1 Corinthians 15:12–19) (Genesis 1:26–27).
Latin
Has vires exseramus in traducem, dicamusque: Si Christus, qui homo factus est, non habuit naturale peccatum, quomodo dicunt quidam in vobis quia imagini Dei pravitas dominetur ingenita? Si autem in natura malum est, et Christus, qui in eadem natura deprehenditur, sub regno diaboli est constitutus. Si autem ille creditur reus, inanis est praedicatio nostra, et vacua est fides vestra; inveniuntur autem falsi testes Apostoli, quia testimonium dixerunt adversus Deum, quod Filium suum, ex semine David secundum carnem, innocuum sanctumque formaverit, si eum maledicti seminis crimen infecit. Prorsus si in tali Christo speramus, miserabiliores sumus omnibus hominibus. Nunc autem Christus non minus verus homo, quam verus Deus, de Adam stirpe generatus, factus ex muliere, factusque sub lege, nullum fecit, et ideo nullum habuit peccatum. Apparet igitur crimen voluntatis esse, non seminis.
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.