What is the book of Tobit?

Question:

I heard about the Book of Tobit that is part of the Bible, but when I searched for it, I could not find it. What is this book and why is it missing in translation of Dumitru Cornilescu?

What are the canonical books?

The Bible contains the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. The canonical books are those written being inspired by the Holy Spirit:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)(NASB)

Why the Book of Tobit is not present in all translations of the Bible?

Both the Orthodox and the Catholic Church included between the walls of the Bible various apocryphal or canonical books called also “anaghinoscomena”, or “good to be read”. The book of Tobit is included in the Bible, both by the Orthodox and the Catholics. Protestants allowed to be included in the Bible only the canonical books, inspired by God and that are 39 in the Old Testament.

Why the Book of Tobit was not included in the Canon of the Old Testament?

Because it contains some texts that contradict the teachings of the books inspired by God. For example, in the Book of Tobit it is written:

Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up treasures of gold. For alms delivers from death, and the same is that which purges away sins, and makes to find mercy and life everlasting. (Tobit 12:8-9)

Alms do not cleanse us from sin. There is only one possibility to be cleansed of sin and that is only through faith in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. If it was possible to clean our sins by alms, there was no need for the incarnation and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. When It gives us the reasons for the Incarnation of Christ, the Scripture says:

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:14-17)(NASB)

Translated by Felicia Rotaru