To Florus 5.27
You therefore ask where this evil comes from which rightly deserves the name evil: sin. I reply that it is exceedingly unskilled to ask the origin of something whose definition has not yet been established. Let us first see whether it exists, then what it is, and last where it comes from. I did this in the first book of the present work, but there I proceeded with some points already secure. Let us now question whether evil exists.
Latin
Quaeris ergo unde sit hoc malum, quod merito malum vocatur, id est, peccatum. Respondeo, imperite nimis rogari originem rei, de cuius adhuc definitione non constitit. Videamus ergo prius utrum sit, tunc quid sit, ultimum unde sit. Feci hoc quidem in primo praesentis operis libello; sed ibi ex aliqua parte securus: ambigatur ergo utrum sit malum.
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.