What is Tobit?

Overview and General Background

Tobit is a literary work often included in the collection referred to as the “Apocrypha” or “Deuterocanonical Books.” It appears in the ancient Greek Septuagint but is absent from the standard Protestant canon. This text narrates the experiences of a righteous Israelite named Tobit (sometimes spelled Tobias) living in exile following the deportation of the northern tribes. While not recognized in the Hebrew Bible as preserved by Jewish tradition, Tobit is regarded as inspired Scripture in some Christian traditions, including the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

The account details Tobit’s faithfulness and trials, along with the experiences of his family members—especially his son Tobias—and the archangel Raphael sent by God to protect and guide them. Even though Tobit is not part of most Protestant Bibles, it is often studied for its historical context, moral teachings, and references to spiritual realities. Fragments of Tobit were discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran, demonstrating that it was known and preserved in some Jewish circles before the time of Christ.

Authorship and Date

The precise authorship of Tobit remains uncertain, as no explicit statement within the text names its writer. Scholars typically date its composition somewhere between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. However, the story’s setting is cast within the period shortly after the fall of the Northern Kingdom (around 722 BC), during the exile of the Israelites in Nineveh.

The discovery of Tobit fragments at Qumran, written in both Hebrew and Aramaic (4Q196–4Q200), affirms the text’s antiquity and widespread circulation. These manuscript fragments illuminate the careful transmission of the text over centuries, although different manuscripts contain variations in wording.

Literary Content and Main Themes

Tobit presents a narrative that blends adventure, moral instruction, and divine intervention. It underscores themes such as faithfulness to God, the importance of prayer, acts of benevolence, reverence for purity, and the sovereignty of God over evil spirits. The story centers on two families in distress: Tobit’s household in Nineveh and that of Sarah in Media, tormented by a demonic force.

1. Faithful Living in Exile: Despite living in a foreign land, Tobit remains devoted to the commandments learned from Moses’ Law. He performs charitable deeds, including burying the dead (cf. Tobit 1:16–19 in many translations), and prays earnestly, illustrating unwavering trust in God’s providence.

2. Divine Guidance through Raphael: One of the unique features of Tobit is the inclusion of the archangel Raphael, sent by God under the guise of a traveling companion for Tobit’s son, Tobias. Raphael’s presence and assistance signify God’s active intervention in the daily struggles of those who remain faithful.

3. Family, Marriage, and Spiritual Warfare: Tobias’s journey leads him to meet and marry Sarah, who is plagued by a demon. With Raphael’s instruction, Tobit’s family finds deliverance. The narrative displays a biblical view of marriage as joyful and under God’s care, while underscoring the reality that spiritual powers operate under God’s jurisdiction.

4. Almsgiving and Righteousness: The text repeatedly elevates good deeds, especially giving to the poor. Although Protestant traditions do not view Tobit as canonical, some of its moral instructions parallel canonical teachings on charity and care for others (cf. Proverbs 19:17: “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD…”).

Canonical Status

Tobit is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic Church and accepted in the Eastern Orthodox canon. However, in most Protestant traditions, it is categorized among the Apocrypha—useful for historical and instructional purposes but not afforded the authoritative status of the Hebrew and Greek canonical books.

Councils such as Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) included Tobit under the umbrella of Scripture in their listings, which would later influence the broader Church. This acceptance continued in many traditions, culminating in the Council of Trent (AD 1546) for the Roman Catholic Church. During the Reformation, leading Protestant thinkers generally excluded it from their canonical lists, noting theological and historical reservations.

Historical Reliability and Archaeological Support

Although it contains narrative and inspirational elements, Tobit’s storyline is placed in a historical context involving the Assyrian captivity. Assyrian clay tablets and inscriptions from the period of Shalmaneser V and Sargon II (2 Kings 17:6) confirm the exile of the northern tribes of Israel. These extra-biblical sources align with certain details about Israelite deportation to regions including Nineveh and Media, lending historical plausibility to the setting described in Tobit.

Fragments of Tobit found at Qumran reveal that copies of this text circulated among Jewish communities. This archaeological discovery underscores its popularity and provides insight into textual variations. The Qumran scrolls support the fact that even beyond the officially recognized Hebrew canon, various Jewish writings were preserved and revered for their devotional and instructional value.

Key Lessons and Applications

1. Faith under Adversity: Tobit illustrates unwavering trust in God, even amid captivity and personal hardship. Such an example of perseverance can encourage believers to remain faithful in modern challenges, recognizing that God can intervene where He wills.

2. Importance of Charity and Good Works: The text underscores the power and significance of caring for the vulnerable, reflecting broader scriptural teaching about charity and kindness (Proverbs 28:27; Matthew 25:34–36).

3. God’s Sovereignty in Spiritual Realms: Through the character of Raphael, the narrative emphasizes that heaven’s armies are at work, even in day-to-day events (cf. Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him…”). Though not canonical for some traditions, this emphasis dovetails with biblical attestations of angelic activity.

4. Marriage and Family: Tobit highlights marital fidelity and God’s concern for families, underscoring prayer and divine guidance in building godly households (cf. Genesis 2:24 on the significance of marriage).

Use in Christian Tradition

Throughout church history, Tobit has been read for its moral and spiritual insights, particularly in traditions where it holds a canonical or semi-canonical place. In those settings, passages concerning prayer, angelic intervention, and familial devotion are incorporated into liturgical practices and personal devotion.

In other Christian circles, Tobit has been appreciated as an apocryphal text that offers helpful wisdom and historical background but does not carry the same doctrinal authority as the canonical 66 books. Even so, it remains a valuable resource for understanding the cultural and religious milieu of intertestamental Judaism.

Conclusion

Tobit is a narrative text that blends devotion, adventure, and divine intervention against the backdrop of Israel’s exile in Assyria. While recognized as canonical by certain Christian traditions, it rests outside official Protestant canons. Nevertheless, its moral teachings—faithfulness, almsgiving, prayer, and the acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty through His angels—resonate with broader biblical principles.

Fragments uncovered at Qumran confirm the text’s ancient transmission, reflecting its valued place in some Jewish communities. For readers today, even if not considered part of the Protestant Bible, Tobit can be studied profitably in understanding intercultural Judaic traditions, exploring the theme of steadfast faith in exile, and gaining insights into how God’s providence is showcased and affirmed within a historical and spiritual narrative.