To Florus 2.61
Yet if the apostle had meant anything of the kind here, he would have said sin entered ‘through one flesh,’ (Romans 5:12) not ‘through one man.’ In generation, only the substance of flesh is shared with the offspring: a soul is not derived from a soul, but flesh from flesh. The term ‘human being,’ however, properly includes both mind and body. Thus, by naming one human being, the apostle neither indicated the work of fertility—in which he knew nothing was imparted except the substance of flesh—nor intended two to be understood. He stressed one to teach that sin passed by imitation, not generation (compare Romans 5:12).
Latin
Verumtamen hic Apostolus si quid tale sensisset, per unam carnem, non per unum hominem peccatum intrasse dixisset. Per generationem vero substantia carnis soboli sola participat; quia non anima de anima, sed caro de carne trahitur; in nomine autem hominis, et animus proprie iudicatur et corpus, ac per hoc Apostolus unum hominem nominando, nec negotium fecunditatis ostendit, in quo nihil praeter substantiam carnis impertiri noverat; nec duos intellegi voluit, qui unum inculcavit, ut doceret imitatione transisse, non generatione peccatum.
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.