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The '''Book of Tobit''' is found in the books of the [[Septuagint]], the Old Testament accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Orthodox Church]] in the ''Greek Orthodox Bible'', and found in the books of the Old Testament of the ''[[Vulgate]]'' and included in the canon of inspired scripture by the [[Third Council of Carthage (397)]]. It is included in the canon of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Bible]]. Since the [[Council of Trent]] it is [[dogma]]tically accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Catholic Church]] in the ''Catholic Bible''—books of the Bible accepted as divinely inspired by the majority of Christian believers in the United States and throughout the world.<ref>The '''Catholic Church''' is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] body comprised of several distinct [https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm "Rites"]. The [[Catholic Church|Catholic Church (Latin Rite)]] is the largest religious body in the United States, with over 60 million adherents (4 times as large as the second largest church, the Orthodox).<br/>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/ “The Global Catholic Population,” © 2011, Pew Research Center.]<br/>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html The Largest Catholic Communities]<br/>

The '''Book of Tobit''' was written in the 3rd or early 2nd century [[B.C.]] and is found in the books of the [[Septuagint]], the Old Testament accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Orthodox Church]] in the ''Greek Orthodox Bible'', and found in the books of the Old Testament of the ''[[Vulgate]]'' and included in the canon of inspired scripture by the [[Third Council of Carthage (397)]]. It is included in the canon of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Bible]]. Since the [[Council of Trent]] it is [[dogma]]tically accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Catholic Church]] in the ''Catholic Bible''—books of the Bible accepted as divinely inspired by the majority of Christian believers in the United States and throughout the world.<ref>The '''Catholic Church''' is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] body comprised of several distinct [https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm "Rites"]. The [[Catholic Church|Catholic Church (Latin Rite)]] is the largest religious body in the United States, with over 60 million adherents (4 times as large as the second largest church, the Orthodox).<br/>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/ “The Global Catholic Population,” © 2011, Pew Research Center.]<br/>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html The Largest Catholic Communities]<br/>

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', officially called the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', and also referred to as the '''[[Orthodox Church]]''' and '''Orthodoxy''', is the second largest [[Christianity|Christian church]] in the world, with an estimated 225–300 million adherents, most of whom live in [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Russia]].<br/>{{cite web |last1=Calivas |first1=Rev. Alciviadis C. |title=The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America |year=1983 |url=http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 |accessdate=7 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |last1=Fairchild |first1=Mary |title=Christianity:Basics:Eastern Orthodox Church Denomination |publisher=about.com |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodoxy/p/orthodoxprofile.htm |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |title=Christianity |work=Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents |publisher=adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}</ref><ref name=Prot>See [http://www.888c.com/worldChristianDenominations.htm Percentage of Christians in Protestant Denominations (29.5%)].</ref>

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', officially called the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', and also referred to as the '''[[Orthodox Church]]''' and '''Orthodoxy''', is the second largest [[Christianity|Christian church]] in the world, with an estimated 225–300 million adherents, most of whom live in [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Russia]].<br/>{{cite web |last1=Calivas |first1=Rev. Alciviadis C. |title=The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America |year=1983 |url=http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 |accessdate=7 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |last1=Fairchild |first1=Mary |title=Christianity:Basics:Eastern Orthodox Church Denomination |publisher=about.com |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodoxy/p/orthodoxprofile.htm |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |title=Christianity |work=Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents |publisher=adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}</ref><ref name=Prot>See [http://www.888c.com/worldChristianDenominations.htm Percentage of Christians in Protestant Denominations (29.5%)].</ref>

The Book of Tobit may be reckoned among the most delightful of short stories. Named after its principal character, it has the form of a religious novel characterized as a Hebrew romance and on the surface is a captivating story. The Book itself is one of the most engaging books of Hebrew Scripture. It combines Jewish piety and morality with literary elements resembling folklore in a fascinating story that has enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles.

The Book of Tobit may be reckoned among the most delightful of short stories. Named after its principal character, it has the form of a religious novel characterized as a Hebrew romance and on the surface is a captivating story. The Book itself is one of the most engaging books of Hebrew Scripture. It combines Jewish piety and morality with literary elements resembling folklore in a fascinating story that has enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles. This book is primarily about two families, one which has a blind patriarch (Tobit) and the other an abandoned maiden (Sarah), and describes the testing of [[faith]], the power of [[prayer]], and the protection by [[God]].

The father is called Tobit (Τωβίτ) in the Greek Septuagint and his son is named Tobias (Τωβίας), but in the Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation both father and son are known as Tobias. The book begins with Tobit (or Tobias the Father), an Israelite of the Northern Kingdom who with his countrymen was deported to Nineveh, and afterward suffers blindness and reduction to poverty. Sara in Medes (Media) suffers torment from the oppressive jealousy of the demon Asmodeus <ref>Asmodeus. The same as Apollyon and Abaddon. See [http://biblehub.com/topical/a/abaddon.htm Topical Bible: Abaddon "the destroyer"]</ref> who strangles each of her husbands on their wedding night. Because of their good life and prayers, God sends the [[Raphael (archangel)|Archangel Raphael]] to help them. He gives his name as "''Azarias''" (Hebrew, <big>'''עזריה'''</big> "''Help of God''") and his identity is established as a relative, "a brother".<ref>Compare the statement of the angel to John "I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." (Revelation 22:8-9).</ref> The virtuous young Tobias the Son joins the disguised Raphael on a journey to Medes on his father's behalf, bringing happiness both to his Father and Sara. The demon is banished and bound, and Tobias the Father regains his sight and his fortune. Prayers, psalms, and words of wisdom, as well as the skillfully constructed story itself, provide valuable insights into the faith and the religious milieu of its unknown author. The book was probably written early in the second century B.C.; it is not known where.

The father is called Tobit (Τωβίτ) in the Greek Septuagint and his son is named Tobias (Τωβίας), but in the Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation both father and son are known as Tobias. The book begins with Tobit (or Tobias the Father), an Israelite of the Northern Kingdom who with his countrymen was deported to Nineveh, and afterward suffers blindness and reduction to poverty. Sara in Medes (Media) suffers torment from the oppressive jealousy of the demon Asmodeus <ref>Asmodeus. The same as Apollyon and Abaddon. See [http://biblehub.com/topical/a/abaddon.htm Topical Bible: Abaddon "the destroyer"]</ref> who strangles each of her husbands on their wedding night. Because of their good life and prayers, God sends the [[Raphael (archangel)|Archangel Raphael]] to help them. He gives his name as "''Azarias''" (Hebrew, <big>'''עזריה'''</big> "''Help of God''") and his identity is established as a relative, "a brother".<ref>Compare the statement of the angel to John "I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." (Revelation 22:8-9).</ref> The virtuous young Tobias the Son joins the disguised Raphael on a journey to Medes on his father's behalf, bringing happiness both to his Father and Sara. The demon is banished and bound, and Tobias the Father regains his sight and his fortune. Prayers, psalms, and words of wisdom, as well as the skillfully constructed story itself, provide valuable insights into the faith and the religious milieu of its unknown author. The book was probably written early in the second century B.C.; it is not known where.