To Florus 1.49
The Manichaean invented and believed that the god of light fought with the prince of darkness; he added that this god's substance is held captive in this world. But he tries to excuse so great a misfortune under an appearance of piety, asserting that his god fought like a good citizen for his homeland and exposed his limbs to danger rather than lose his kingdom. You learned these things. Consider how much progress you made by abandoning them, even for a time! You say that God was not forced to undergo war but committed an unjust judgment; that he is not subject to dark enemies but to plainly evident crimes; and finally that he did not part with his own substance but violated eternal justice. I leave others to judge which of you is worse. This much is clear: you arrive at one and the same wicked opinion. The Manichaean assigns injustice to his god when he says that on the last day his god will condemn the members he himself surrendered. You too declare God miserable, because he ruins the glory that made him renowned and, by persecuting the innocence he created, loses the justice that made him supremely holy. The god your teacher invented therefore surpasses the God you introduce by just as much as defeat in battle is more excusable than defeat by vice.
Latin
Pugnasse quidem cum principe tenebrarum deum lucis, Manichaeus finxit, et credidit, addiditque eius captivam teneri in hoc orbe substantiam; sed tantam infelicitatem colore pietatis nititur excusare, affirmans eum quasi bonum pro patria dimicasse civem, atque ideo obiecisse membra, ne perderet regna. Tu qui haec didiceras, quantum ea vel ad tempus deserendo profeceris intuere; dicis, Deum necessitatem non pertulisse belli, sed iniquitatem admisisse iudicii; nec tenebrosis hostibus, sed perspicuis subiacere criminibus; non impertisse postremo substantiam suam, sed aeternam violasse iustitiam. Quo quis vestrum peior sit, aliis aestimandum relinquo. Illud tamen liquet, ad unum vos opinionis nefas redire. Nam et Manichaeus subscribit iniquitatem Deo suo, cum eum allegat damnaturum, in ultimo die membra quae tradidit; et tu per hoc illum asseris infelicem, per quod corrumpit gloriam qua cluebat, et persequendo innocentiam quam creavit, perdidit iustitiam qua sacerrimus fuit. Tantum igitur huic, quem tu inducis Deo ille, quem magister tuus commentus fuerat, antecellit, quantum excusabilius est praelio superatum esse quam vitio.
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.