Tobit How Authentic is this Book?

[GoldenKingGaze]

Dear brothers, sisters, in the Catholic Bible there is the book of Tobit. This was written in Hebrew?

This book is not in the protestant Bible because the Gospels and Letters do not quote or allude to it?

How relevant and true is Tobit?

What of names of archangels, how many are there?

 

[Unix]

Should NOT be read because it inspired and unreliable verse in the NT: Jas 2:13.

I suggest the Revised English Bible, there is an edition that only contains the apocrypha and not the whole Old Testament and not the New Testament:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apocrypha-RE530-Cambridge-University-Press/dp/0521769310/ref=sr_1_37?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312795922&sr=1-37
(I provide this link because it's often troublesome to search/browse Amazon for REB.)

Previously edited by Unix; 8th August 2011 at 11:36 AM local time. Reason: Add REB link

 

[Slaol121]

I think Tobit is scripture and should be read.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Dear brothers, sisters, in the Catholic Bible there is the book of Tobit. This was written in Hebrew?

This book is not in the protestant Bible because the Gospels and Letters do not quote or allude to it?

That's not really a good way to determine canonicity, as there are arguably allusions to some Deuterocanonical books in the NT whereas there are no quotes or allusions to several universally accepted OT books (Song of Songs and Esther).

How relevant and true is Tobit?

I've only read parts of Tobit and not terribly familiar with it as much as I probably ought to be. From what I do recall, I'm inclined against its historicity, but that doesn't make it false (I also don't take Job as historical, but do believe it is true). It's as relevant as perhaps anything else, though I should probably read through it again so I have some better comments.

What of names of archangels, how many are there?

Christian Tradition recounts at least three by name: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael; though seven is the standard number, but the names of the other four seems to differ:

St. Gregory the Great mentioned Uriel, Phanuel, Zarachiel, and Simiel, though in the East they are Uriel, Sealtiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel.

Uriel is mentioned in 2 Esdras (also called 3 Esdras).

-CryptoLutheran

 

[rev.hewett]

Dear brothers, sisters, in the Catholic Bible there is the book of Tobit. This was written in Hebrew?

This book is not in the protestant Bible because the Gospels and Letters do not quote or allude to it?

How relevant and true is Tobit?

What of names of archangels, how many are there?

I'm a protestant (Free Will Baptist, at that) & I like the book of Tobit. One of my professors got his Ph.D in Church History at a Catholic Seminary (they're strict on their history I guess because he was very good). Anyway, needless to say he got turned onto the NRSV & I bought one with the OT Apocrypha. Where I do not consider any of these books canonical, Tobit is one that I consider a must-read. There's not nearly the evidence to go toward the historicity of the book, but only very minor issues with the content when looked at critically against other scripture. I wouldn't exactly preach out of Tobit, but I do like to read it now & then.

 

[MrPolo]

Dear brothers, sisters, in the Catholic Bible there is the book of Tobit. This was written in Hebrew?

This book is not in the protestant Bible because the Gospels and Letters do not quote or allude to it?

How relevant and true is Tobit?

What of names of archangels, how many are there?

I agree that whether or not a book is written in the Hebrew tongue is a specious requirement, considering A) that Alexander the Great conquered much of the territory a few centuries before Christ and he advanced Greek among the Jews, and B) Christ and the Apostles quoted the Greek Septuagint many times which means they weren't concerned specifically with "Hebrew" texts.

Nevertheless, "The recent discovery of five scrolls of Tobit - 4QTob - in both Hebrew and Aramaic among the Dead Sea Scrolls in Cave IV of Qumran has given the book renewed attention." (source)

There are allusions to Tobit in the NT as well (even though as CryptoLutheran pointed out, there are a number of OT books not quoted in the NT - so that's not a final measure of canonicity).

Some examples of loose quotation of Tobit include:

Matt.. 7:12 - Jesus' golden rule "do unto others" is the converse of Tobit 4:15 - what you hate, do not do to others.

Matt. 11:25 - Jesus' description "Lord of heaven and earth" is the same as Tobit 7:18 - Lord of heaven and earth.

Rev. 1:4 – the seven spirits who are before his throne reflects Tobit 12:15

Rev. 8:3-4 - prayers of the saints presented to God by the hand of an angel follows Tobit 12:12,15.

See more at ScriptureCatholic.

You will notice a lot of Christ's sermon on the mount or other teachings in Matthew come from OT wisdom literature like Tobit, Wisdom, Proverbs etc...

 

[Incariol]

Dear brothers, sisters, in the Catholic Bible there is the book of Tobit. This was written in Hebrew?

This book is not in the protestant Bible because the Gospels and Letters do not quote or allude to it?

How relevant and true is Tobit?

What of names of archangels, how many are there?

Tobit is Scripture, and should be read like the rest.