To Florus · §1.63

To Florus 1.63

You say that sin is inherited through the condition of nature, while claiming that this evil arose from the first human being's will. I postpone here the reply that will convict you of shameless lying. For the present issue, however, I draw this conclusion, trusting reasoned understanding: you unambiguously define nature as diabolical. For if that through which a human being is possessed by the devil exists in nature or comes through nature, then that by which the devil could claim God's image for himself indisputably belongs to the devil (compare Genesis 1:26–27). Indeed, something that is in the devil's kingdom by its very birth is not even God's image.

Latin source witness