To Florus 6.38
‘Otherwise,’ he says, ‘what will those baptized for the dead do, if the dead do not rise at all? Why are they baptized for them? Why do we also face danger every hour? I die daily, by the glory I have in you in the Lord. If, humanly speaking, I fought beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me if the dead do not rise? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ (1 Corinthians 15:29–32) (Colossians 3:5).
If, he says, impious unbelief shakes this hope of future glory, in which God will be all in all, and denies resurrection of the dead, what will those baptized for the dead do? From this arose some people’s error: they think the early Gospel period had a custom whereby bystanders made the profession on behalf of corpses and even washed the dead person’s limbs with baptismal water. This plainly arose from ignorance. The apostle’s phrase ‘baptized for the dead’ indicates nothing other than what he said to the Romans: ‘We were buried with him through baptism into death’ (Romans 6:4) (Isaiah 22:13).
That is: Why do we approach baptism in a spirit of putting our members to death thereafter and living wholly as dead, if there is no hope of living after death? Why, he says, do I submit to daily dangers, constantly encountering the death persecutors inflict, so that I may boast before God of your progress, if the dead do not rise? Why, humanly speaking, did I fight beasts at Ephesus—that is, endure the beastlike fury of rioters—if resurrection of the dead is still uncertain?
‘Do not be deceived: bad conversations corrupt good morals. Some have ignorance of God; I say this to your shame’ (1 Corinthians 15:33–34) (1 Corinthians 15:28). Love of sins, he says, persuades you to distrust future things. People suppose there is no judgment so that they may sin more boldly. Those denying resurrection, he says, completely fail to understand God. You therefore deny not only reward but divine power, and should be deeply ashamed. I say it to your shame that such people can be found among you.
Latin
Alioquin - inquit - quid facient qui baptizantur pro mortuis, si omnino mortui non resurgunt? Quid et baptizantur pro illis? Quid et nos periclitamur omni hora? Quotidie morior per vestram gloriam, quam habeo in Domino. Si secundum hominem pugnavi bestiis Ephesi, quid mihi prodest, si mortui non resurgunt? Manducemus et bibamus, cras enim moriemur. Si, inquit, ista spes futurae gloriae, qua Deus omnia in omnibus erit, impia infidelitate quatiatur, negeturque resurrectio mortuorum, quid facient qui baptizantur pro mortuis? Natus hinc error aliquorum est, putantium inter exordia Evangelii eum morem fuisse, quo astantes pro cadaveribus profiterentur, et aqua Baptismatis etiam defunctorum membra perfunderent; quod apparet de imperitia contigisse. Hoc enim quod ait Apostolus: Baptizantur pro mortuis, nihil aliud indicat, quam illud quod ad Romanos dixit: Consepulti illi sumus per Baptisma in mortem [n230] ; id est: Qua gratia, tali ad Baptismatis susceptionem animo accedimus, ut membra nostra mortificemus in posterum, et pro mortuis omnino degamus, si spes non est, quia post mortem vivamus? Cur autem et quotidianis, inquit, subdor periculis, in mortem iugiter incidens, quam inferunt persequentes, ut de vestris ante Deum possim profectibus gloriari, si mortui non resurgunt? Cur autem et secundum hominem pugnavi bestiis Ephesi, id est, cur sustinui bestialem seditiosorum furorem, si adhuc nutat quod mortui resurgunt? Nolite seduci; bonos mores corrumpunt colloquia mala. Ignorantiam enim Dei quidam habent; ad confusionem vobis dico [n231] . Amor, inquit, peccatorum diffidere vos suadet de futuris; putatur non esse iudicium, ut maiore peccetur audacia. Omnino, inquit, nesciunt aestimare Deum, qui inficiantur resurrectioni. Non ergo solum remunerationem, sed virtutem divinitatis negatis, unde nimium debetis erubescere. Ad confusionem vobis dico, posse inter vos tales quospiam reperiri.
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.