To Florus 3.47

Having established the balanced scales of his judgment, he was already condemning your opinion in people who thought similarly. ‘You have said: Why has the son not borne his father’s iniquity? Because,’ he says, ‘the soul that sins shall itself die. The son does not bear his father’s injustice, nor does the father bear his son’s injustice. The just person’s justice shall rest on himself, and the wicked person’s wickedness shall rest on himself’ (Ezekiel 18:19–20). Which of us could ever have discussed this with as much care as God did through his prophet’s mouth, distinguishing, comparing, and repeating the points?