A Preferential Option for the Rich: Wealth as the Facilitator for Faithfulness in the Book of Tobit

Scholars have interpreted Tobit as a paragon of piety in the Book of Tobit. A materialist reading of the tale, however, suggests that Tobit's assets are what facilitates his religious devotion over the course of the story. In this way, the narrative establishes a rhetorical reality in which the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cason, Thomas Scott 1973- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Catholic Biblical Association of America [2019]
In: The catholic biblical quarterly
Year: 2019, Volume: 81, Issue: 2, Pages: 217-234
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Tobit / Tobit, Biblical person / Wealth / Faithfulness
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B FAITHFULNESS of God
B Social status
B Tobit
B Poverty
B Faithfulness
B TOBITS
B ASSET management
B Wealth
B Materialism
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Summary:Scholars have interpreted Tobit as a paragon of piety in the Book of Tobit. A materialist reading of the tale, however, suggests that Tobit's assets are what facilitates his religious devotion over the course of the story. In this way, the narrative establishes a rhetorical reality in which the persistence of faithfulness in exile is less a matter of resolve than the result of accumulated wealth, as well as economic systems, which make it possible to continue traditional practices while living in a foreign land. Where wealth proves most advantageous is in Tobit's vision of the New Jerusalem. The affluent have maintained their conventional beliefs while in exile, and their wealth-enabled faithfulness forms a vetting process to determine inheritance rights in the New Jerusalem.
ISSN:2163-2529
Contains:Enthalten in: The catholic biblical quarterly
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/cbq.2019.0136