Category: Apocrypha
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Tobit- Deception
Tobit 12:11-22 Raphael claims to not be acting according to his own will but God’s. According to Raphael, God instructs His angels to test people by deceiving them (v. 19) and heal people by showing them the mystic powers of fish innards (8:3; 11:11, 12). Raphael instructed Tobit and Tobias to praise God for Raphael’s…
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Tobit- Unrighteousness Masquerading as Righteousness
Tobit 12:1-10 Despite the fact that God has not been described as working through the entire narrative, Raphael privately instructs Tobit and Tobias to praise God for Him many works. In this, the archangel attributes Tobias’ mystic workings to God who hates mysticism (see notes on 8:1-3). Raphael goes on to prescribe how Tobit and…
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Tobit- Narcissistic Religion
Tobit 11:1-18 Tobias returns home with his new wife, Sarah, and his guide, Raphael. Tobit’s sight is finally restored, and the family revels in their many victories. In this chapter, we see the same theological problems we have seen throughout Tobit. Tobit’s sight is not restored directly by God, but by either materialistic or mystic…
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Tobit- False Humility
Tobit 10:7b-13 Tobias persuades Sarah’s parents to send them off so he can return home. They exchange blessings, and Sarah’s parents send them off with Sarah’s inheritance. Tobias praises God as sovereign because God has made his journey a success. This is an interesting praise. So far, the story has been very careful to describe…
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Tobit- Greek Influence on Second-Temple Judaism
Tobit 10:1-7a The difference between a Greek tragedy and a Greek comedy is survival. Romeo and Juliet is tragedy, though a comic one. Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events is comedy, though a tragic one. Tobit is a Greek comedy, and we see it here. Tobias is late arriving home from his journey. The reader…
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Tobit- On Instructing God
Tobit 9:1-6 Tobias instructed Raphael, whom he thought was Azariah, to fetch his family’s wealth from Gabael and invite Gabael to the wedding celebration. Tobias is still unaware that Raphael is an angel sent from God. Raphael has lied to Tobias and continuously deceives Tobias. In Scripture, we never read about God’s angels lying. Neither…
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Tobit- Religion That Causes Despair
Tobit 8:4-21 When Sarah’s parents leave, Tobias instructs Sarah to get out of bed and pray with him. Their prayer is exactly the type of prayer we see condemned throughout Scripture. Tobias and Sarah bargain with God. They are concerned about their own wills rather than God’s. They try to persuade God to be a…
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Tobit-Burning Fish Liver Before Sex Keeps Demons Away
Tobit 8:1-3 Sarah’s parents bring Tobias to the bridal chambers where the two are expected to consecrate their marriage. There is still on outstanding issue, though. Sarah is haunted by the demon, Asmodeus. So, Tobias follows Raphael’s instructions by burning the fish liver with the other incense. The foul smell drives the demon away only…
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Tobit- I Am the Captain of My Soul
Tobit 7:1-16 Tobias and Raphael arrive at Raguel’s house. Raguel and his wife grieve over Tobit’s blindness. Raguel gives his daughter in marriage to Tobias after Tobias requests her hand and after warning Tobias about her curse. There are comic fluctuations between joy and grief. We continue to see the idea that people are responsible…
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Tobit- Every Worldview Points to Christ
Tobit 6:14-18 Raphael has already instructed Tobias to keep the inner fish parts for the purpose of mystic practice even though mystic practice is contrary to God’s Law (cf. Deuteronomy 18:9-12). In this part of the story, the archangel instructs Tobias to perform a mystic ritual in order to expel the rumored demon, who has…