this issue
previous article in this issuenext article in this issue

Document Details :

Title: Tobit 12,8 and 2 Clement 16.4
Author(s): TUCKETT, Christopher M.
Journal: Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses
Volume: 88    Issue: 1   Date: 2012   
Pages: 129-144
DOI: 10.2143/ETL.88.1.2164172

Abstract :
The text of the book of Tobit raises many well-known issues. There is widespread agreement that the Greek textual witnesses divide into two main groups, with a third group also identifiable. This third group is often regarded as very late, and giving only stylistic improvements. A study of the text of Tobit 12,8 is of interest because of an interesting variant in the third group of texts, where almsgiving is rated above prayer and fasting, a reading also implicitly supported by the Old Latin. The saying in this form was thus probably very old. This is also supported by the evidence of 2 Clement 16,4 which also seems to reflect this reading of the text of Tobit 12,8. The article offers detailed analysis of the textual evidence of the texts of Tobit and 2 Clement here, and suggests that perhaps the third group of Tobit texts might reflect at times earlier traditions and also involve more than simply stylistic improvements of the text.

Download article