To Florus 4.77
But let us return to the case. You said I had been unwilling to name desire because “it is not from the Father but from the world. The devil is called the ruler of this world. He did not find it in the Lord, because the Lord came among human beings as a man without it” (1 John 2:16) (Augustine, On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.26.41; compare 1 John 2:16; John 14:30). Notice this: you were speaking of a natural thing, and after saying it was from the world, you added that the devil should be believed ruler of the whole world. You were thus acknowledging him as author not of voluntary acts but of natural things—that is, of natures (John 14:30) (1 John 2:16; John 14:30).
Latin
Sed ut revertamur ad causam, postquam dixisti, me ideo noluisse concupiscentiam nominare, quia non esset ex Patre, sed ex mundo; cuius mundi princeps dictus est diabolus; qui eam in Domino non invenit; quia Dominus homo non per ipsam ad homines venit [n113] . Ubi notandum est, quia cum de re naturali loquereris, eamque ex mundo esse dixisses, subdidisti mundi totius principem diabolum credi oportere; ut non actuum voluntariorum, sed naturalium rerum, utique naturarum, fatereris eum auctorem.
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.