Julian quotation
Against Julian 5.7.26
The Paternian heretics, also called Venustians, are like the Manichaeans. They say the devil made the human body from the loins to the feet, while God placed the upper parts upon it as though upon a base. They add that human effort requires only keeping the soul clean, which they say lives in the stomach and head. If the pubic region is smeared with the filth of every shameful act, they say this is no concern of theirs. Thus, to serve lust disgracefully themselves, they always assign it a title of independent power.
Latin
Sed Paterniani - inquis - iidemque Venustiani haeretici [n71] similes Manichaeis, dicunt a lumbis usque ad pedes diabolum fecisse corpus hominis, superiores vero partes Deum velut supra basem aliquam collocasse: adduntque nihil ab hominis studio requiri, quam ut anima quam in stomacho et capite habitare dicunt, munda servetur: pubem vero si omnium flagitiorum sordibus oblinatur, aiunt ad suam non pertinere curam. Ita semper - inquis - ut ipsi libidini turpiter serviant, titulum ei propriae potestatis affigunt. Cuius cognatione sententiae
Arbitrio verecundantium velabatur, quod non arbitrio volentium movebatur; et quod non serviens voluntati, suo iure corpus libido succendat
About this text
Earlier four-book work to Turbantius, surviving as excerpts arranged by Augustine’s witness. Latin source text is on each section when recovered.
English follows Julian’s words as Augustine excerpts them in Against Julian. This is not a recovered complete To Turbantius.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Against Julian (Latin · Excerpts arranged by Augustine’s books)
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.