To Florus 2.84
Afterward we came to the law. The apostle wrote that undisclosed sin prevailed until its time (Romans 5:13). You tried to extend that time until the law’s end, without understanding that your argument was futile. For we would compel you either to prove that this sin—which you falsely claim Paul discussed, and which you assert reigned until the Old Testament was abolished—was or could have been imputed under the law; or else to agree that it does not reign after Christ. At least then the apostle’s statement, though violently twisted, would agree with your views. But you can deliver none of this. The purity of our faith therefore stands on solid ground, in agreement with reason’s principles, justice’s dignity, and all the apostle’s teachings.
Latin
Postea quoque ad legem ventum est, ad cuius usque tempus perscripsit Apostolus non ostensum viguisse peccatum; quod tu tempus usque ad finem legis protelare conatus es non intellegens nequidquam te argumentatum, quandoquidem constringendus a nobis esses, ut probares hoc peccatum, de quo mentiris Paulum locutum et quod asseris usque ad abolitionem regnasse Veteris Testamenti, vel imputatum fuisse vel imputari potuisse sub lege, vel certe acquiesceres non regnare post Christum, ut sensibus tuis saltem inflexa violenter Apostoli sententia consonaret. Horum autem nihil reddi a te potest; fidei ergo nostrae in solido est puritas collocata, cui et rationis instituta et iustitiae dignitas et Apostoli per omnia scita conveniunt.
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.