To Florus 4.9
“If, then,” I say, “offspring come only through sex, sex only through a body, and a body only through God, who could doubt that fertility is rightly attributed to God?” This is so certain that it forced even your mouth to praise it. But after paying this passage your tribute, you warn that a heresy is being introduced, although the words I added merely repeated what had come before, with an explanation attached.
Latin
Si igitur - inquio - non nisi per sexum fetus, non nisi per corpus sexus, non nisi per Deum corpus; quis ambigat fecunditatem Deo iure reputari? Hoc tam certum est, ut etiam tua in suam laudem ora concusserit. Verum post praeconium huic a te loco redditum, haeresim admones introduci, cum ea quae subdidi, nihil aliud quam quae praemissa fuerant, admota explanatione geminaverint.
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.