Answer to the Pelagians

Augustine was writing the Unfinished Work in Answer to Julian, published in this volume, when he died in August 430. The Unfinished Work is a rebuttal of Julian of Eclanum's To Florus, an eight-book text in defense of Pelagianism, which had by then been officially condemned by the Church. Augustine and Julian had previously written responses to excerpts of one another's work, though not in direct correspondence. In Unfinished Work, however, Augustine writes as though speaking to Julian directly, making for an engaging and clear read. He quotes each point of To Florus to which he responds, so the reader gains a comprehensive picture of his opponent's views. Once again, Augustine defends grace as a gift from God and Jesus as the savior of all humanity.