Why Was Tobit Removed from Protestant Bibles?
While Tobit is included in many editions of the Catholic Bible, it is not found in the Protestant version of the Bible. This raises the question of why this important text is missing from many Protestant translations. Let's delve into the history and reasons behind this exclusion.
Understanding the Apocrypha
Tobit forms part of the Apocrypha, a collection of books that are part of some Christian Bibles but not included in the Protestant canon. These books are extra-canonical in the sense that they are not considered divinely inspired by the Protestant Church. The term Apocrypha literally means hidden or obscure, and refers to these books that were used in the early church but not officially recognized as scripture.
Tobit's Absence from the Hebrew Scriptures
It's important to note that Tobit was never a part of the Hebrew scriptures. It is a Jewish writing that, while it gained some popularity, was not considered to be part of the official canon. Many of these books found their way into the Apocrypha of the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible used by early Christians.
The Septuagint and the Masoretic Text
The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, played a significant role in the development of Christian scripture. It was used by Jewish leaders during Jesus' lifetime and forms the basis of the Catholic Bible. However, the Protestant Old Testament, known as the Masoretic Text, includes fewer books.
Differences in Canons
The Masoretic Text, which is the official Jewish text used by Protestants, was compiled around 400 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and it includes only the books that were accepted as canonical by Jewish scholars. This compilation includes a shorter canon than the Septuagint, which contained 14 books, including Tobit.
Reasons for Exclusion
Protestant translators made a conscious decision to exclude several books from the Apocrypha, including Tobit, based on their origins in Greek rather than Hebrew or Aramaic. These books are believed to have been written or translated into Greek, lacking the Hebrew or Aramaic originals that Protestant scholars preferred.
Early Church and Tobit
Despite the exclusion from the Protestant canon, the Book of Tobit was recognized by early church leaders. It was included in the canon by the Council of Rome in 382 CE and later endorsed by St. Augustine. These early councils and leaders did not share the same criteria for canonization as the Protestant Church, thus leaving Tobit out of their Bible canon.
Reformation and the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Protestant Bible, however, adopted the New Testament canon established by the Catholic Church without any alterations. It was the Old Testament canon that was in question. The Reformation leaders decided to base their Old Testament on the Masoretic Text, which lacks several books found in the Septuagint, including Tobit.
Modern Discoveries and Resurgence
Recent archaeological findings, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, have revealed that some books, including Tobit, were indeed written in Hebrew or Aramaic. These scrolls predate the creation of the Masoretic Text and offer a glimpse into the original texts of these books.
Conclusion
The exclusion of Tobit from Protestant Bibles is due to the stringent criteria applied during the canonization process. While the Protestant Church chose to adopt the Masoretic Text as its canonical source, this decision excluded several books, including Tobit. However, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has shed new light on the historical context of these books, making their inclusion in future editions of the Bible a possibility.