To Florus 1.77
By this statement you would have established something definite. If you had then spoken against it, you would have appeared exceedingly shameless; if you had consistently maintained it throughout, you might have appeared corrected, even if belatedly. But now you say that I deceive, although I prove my charge through your own words; and you immediately lie in what you think you have constructed consistently. You say: “We do not deny free choice”, and append the Gospel's testimony: “But Truth says, ‘If the Son sets you free, then you will be truly free’” (John 8:36). Yet it is established that our Lord Jesus did not utter those words in that passage against free choice. Let us postpone their explanation a little and use definitions and distinctions to make clear what each of us means. According to the teaching of all learned people, a discussion ought to begin with a definition.
Latin
Impleveras enim hoc sermone aliquid, contra quod si fuisses locutus ulterius, nimium impudens; sin autem omnia continenter, vel tarde posses apparere correctior. Nunc vero me dicis fallere, qui quod obieci, per te probo; et tu statim in eo, quod te putas consequenter instruxisse, mentiris. Ais quippe: Non liberum negamus arbitrium; et subiungis testimonium Evangelii, sed " vos Filius li raverit - ait Veritas - tunc vere liberi eritis " [n183] . Cum hoc in illo loco a Domino nostro Iesu constet in liberum arbitrium non fuisse prolatum, cuius expositionem sententiae paululum differentes, definitionibus et divisionibus, quid nostrum alteruter sentiat, explicemus. Debet quippe, secundum omnium doctorum disciplinam, inchoatio disputationis a definitione sumi.
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.