To Florus 2.55
Your argument, then, was exceedingly stupid: that if the apostle Paul had wanted sin’s passage to be understood as imitation, he would have named the devil rather than Adam. For it is clear that the evil of either a human being or the devil could pass on only through imitation. But now that your construction has been torn apart, not so much by my hands as by those of reason itself, attend to what we bring forward (compare Romans 5:12) (Romans 5:12).
Latin
Ac per hoc bardissime argumentatus es, quod si apostolus Paulus per imitationem transisse peccatum voluisset intellegi, diabolum magis quam Adam nominasset; cum clareat, et hominis et diaboli malum non nisi imitatione transire potuisse. Verum disiecto quod tu exstruxeras, non tam meis quam ipsius rationis manibus, quid nunc a nobis afferatur attende.
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.