Texts in Conversation
The Christian theologian Polycarp draws on Tobit’s teaching that giving to the poor brings deliverance from death, demonstrating how Jewish texts like Tobit were being used as authoritative sources for Christian teaching and practice.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Tobit 4:10
Deuterocanon
5 My child, be mindful of the Lord all your days, and do not let your will be set to sin and to transgress his commandments: do acts of righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness. 6 For if you do the truth, success shall be in your works, and so it shall be to all that do righteousness. 7 Give alms of your substance: do not turn away your face from any poor man, and the face of God shall not be turned away from you, 8 As your substance is, give alms of it according to your abundance: if you have much, according to the abundance of it, give alms; if you have little bestow it, and do not be afraid to give alms according to that little: 9 for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity: 10 because alms delivers from death, and does not allow one to come into darkness. 11 Alms is a good offering in the sight of the Most High for all that give it.
Date: 225–175 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 10:2
Early Christian
1 Stand firm, then, in these things and follow the example of the Lord, firm and immovable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, devoted to one another, partners with the truth, outdoing one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no one. 2 When you are able to do good, do not put it off, for almsgiving delivers from death. All of you, be subject to one another, keeping your conduct blameless among the gentiles, so that from your good works you may receive praise and the Lord may not be blasphemed because of you. 3 But woe to the one through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed. Therefore teach everyone self-control, which you yourselves also live by.
Date: 135–155 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
"... Barnabas (90-130) employs quotations from Wisdom of Solomon (20:2), 1 Enoch (16:5), 4 Ezra (12:1), and from unknown 'scripture' as in 7:3, 8, and 10:7. The Didache (70-90 CE) makes use of Wisdom of Solomon in 5:2 and 10:3 as well as an unknown quote in 1:6. Polycarp cites Tobit 4:10 (see also 12:9) in Martyrdom 10:2 ..."
Lee Martin McDonald, Forgotten Scriptures: The Selection and Rejection of Early Religious Writings (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009), 136.
* 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.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,