Texts in Conversation
Tobit describes giving to the poor as a practice that saves from death and removes sin, a tradition echoed in 1 Peter to describe acts of love. Early Christian teaching adapted Jewish traditions that connected generosity with forgiveness.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Tobit 12:9
Deuterocanon
7 It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but to confess and reveal the works of God. And confess them with honour. Do the good, and evil shall not find you. 8 Better is prayer with truth, and alms with righteousness than riches with unrighteousness; it is better to give alms than to lay up gold: 9 almsgiving does deliver from death, and it purges away all sin. They that do alms shall be fed with life; 10 they that commit sin and unrighteousness are enemies to their own life.
Date: 225–175 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
1 Peter 4:8
New Testament
6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards. 7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. 8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Date: 80–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... 2 Clement 16:4 contains the citation of 1 Peter 4:8 (along with Tobit 12:8-9): “Fasting is better than prayer, but merciful practice is better than both, and love covers a multitude of sins; prayer from a good conscience delivers from death.” Drawing on Tobit 12:8 (G1: “Prayer with fasting and merciful action and righteousness is good”), the author of 2 Clement asserts the superiority of merciful practice over prayer, but he goes beyond Tobit by declaring that ἐλεημοσύνη is better than both fasting and prayer ..."
David J. Downs, Alms: Charity, Reward, and Atonement in Early Christianity (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2016), 189–190.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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