City of God - Augustine - XXXVI - Book 18 commenced

Required reading
City of God by Augustine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Book 18 by reading Chapters 1 to 16.

My summary
Now that Augustine has outlined the development of the city of God up to the virgin birth, in Book 18 he begins 'outlining the progress of that other city from the time of Abraham, giving it what seems adequate treatment, so that my readers may observe both cities and mark the contrast between them.'

So today we see the progress of the city of man in the Assyrian, Egyptian and Greek nations through the times of the patriarchs, Moses, Joshua and the judges.

What grabbed me
I found interesting the contrast of historical reliability of what we know about the two cities in their early stages. 

Augustine himself regularly mentions that there are contrasting theories as to what happened during these times. 

And in the Penguin edition that I am reading there is a footnote at the beginning of Book 18 that says 'It would be tedious to attempt a detailed annotation of St Augustine's sketch of ancient history.  His sources show the vagueness of antiquity about the great empires of the East; Assyria and Babylon are generally - and understandably - confused.  But a few dates may be of service.'

It is wonderful to know that the Bible is not a collection of myths like the records of so many other religions, but is a historically reliable account of our ancestors in the faith.  We can be assured that the development of the city of God as we have it in the Bible is true.

Next week's reading
Continue Book 18 by reading Chapters 17 to 31.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.