To Florus 2.42
Children, then, are not guilty even when their parents sin in begetting them. For parents are connected to their children only insofar as they are parents; correspondingly, children are connected to their parents only insofar as they are children. It is established that offspring share in their progenitors’ nature, not their fault. If you declare that the apostle confirms what reason demonstrates, then we rightly defend, under his instruction, the position that parents’ sins cannot belong to their children. The apostle, radiant with the Holy Spirit; we, instructed by reason’s light; and you, crushed by the weight of the truth you attack, all jointly and truly confess that parents, insofar as they are parents, are not guilty. They are connected to their children only insofar as they are parents. Consequently, children insofar as they are children—that is, before performing any act through their own will—cannot be guilty.
Latin
Filii igitur nec tunc rei sunt, quando in eorum generatione peccant parentes; quia in tantum ad liberos suos pertinent, in quantum parentes sunt; igitur et tantum filii ad parentes pertinent, in quantum filii sunt. Naturae quippe generantium constat germina communicare, non culpae. Quod si, ut ratio demonstrat, ita etiam Apostolum confirmare pronuntias; merito nos, eo docente, defendimus peccata parentum ad filios pertinere non posse; quandoquidem et Apostolus Spiritu Sancto clarus, et nos instructi luce rationis, et tu pondere impugnatae a te veritatis oppressus, communiter vereque fateamur, parentes in quantum parentes sunt, reos non esse; in tantum autem ad filios pertinere, in quantum parentes sunt; igitur filios in quantum filii sunt, id est, antequam aliquid per voluntatem propriam operentur, reos esse non posse.
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.