To Florus 2.99
It will follow entirely consistently that everlasting death—that is, eternal punishment—was not transmitted to us, and consequently that sin transmitted by descent cannot exist. To make briefly clear the position we must hold: the apostle ranks Christ’s gifts above the first man’s sin. Do you say that through this sin of yours—the sin of inherited transmission—one death passed on, or two? If one, and bodily death, as you have confessed here, then Christ’s grace clearly excels the first man’s sin, and no one is born a sinner. For if, as you said above, sin’s kingdom consists in a person being hurled into the second death, or everlasting punishment, and you say that through Adam only bodily death was brought on, then neither sin nor eternal death is transmitted through Adam to his descendants (compare Romans 5:15; Revelation 20:14) (Romans 5:15) (Revelation 20:14) (Romans 5:15; Revelation 20:14).
Latin
Constabit autem consequentissime mortem perpetuam, id est poenam sempiternam, ad nos non fuisse transmissam ac per hoc peccatum traducis esse non posse. Ut enim breviter, quid tenendum constet, appareat; ab Apostolo dona Christi peccato primi hominis praeferuntur; tu per hoc peccatum tuum id est traducis unam dicis an duas transisse mortes? Si unam et corporalem, ut hic confessus es, constat gratiam Christi antecellere peccato primi hominis et iam nascitur nemo peccator, quia, si ut supra dixisti, regnum peccati est, ut in secundam homo mortem id est in poenam perpetuam praecipitetur, et per Adam mortem corporis solum advectam dicis, nec peccatum per Adam ad posteros nec mors aeterna transmittitur.
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.