Tobit: Why the Apocryphal Books are not Part of the Bible

I have many Catholic friends, and from time to time, one of them will attempt to persuade me that the books of the Apocrypha are just as much Scripture as the Old and New Testaments.  After studying the Apocrypha itself, I've developed the response of pointing out that even according to the Catholic church's own criteria, the Apocrypha does not make the cut. 

Pope Leo XIII said of the inspiration of the Bible that

"it is absolutely wrong and forbidden, either to narrow inspiration to certain parts only of Holy Scripture, or to admit that the sacred writer has erred."

According to Pope Benedict XV, the Catholic church teaches that

"divine inspiration extends to every part of the Bible without the slightest exception, and that no error can occur in the inspired text."

And Pope Pius XII strongly criticized those who

"put forward again the opinion, already often condemned, which asserts that immunity from error extends only to those parts of the Bible that treat of God or of moral and religious matters."

From these and many other statements, it is clear that the Catholic church claims that all Scripture is inerrant, and I agree with this particular claim.  The Bible was produced by God Himself, and it must therefore be without error.  Unfortunately, for my Catholic friends, this claim of inerrancy eliminates the Apocrypha from being classified as Scripture. 

For example, here are a few of the errors that I found in the book of Tobit.  This is far from an exhaustive list, but I think that it is sufficient to demonstrate that this book falls far short of the inerrancy requirement.

1. The entire book of Tobit is full of boasting.
   1. Prov. 27:2 - Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
   2. Prov. 25:27 - It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
   3. II Cor. 11:30 - If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2. The mystery of Tobit’s age.
   1. Tobit 1:4-5 – Tobit was a young child when the ten northern tribes rejected Rehoboam (c. 930 BC) – I Kings 12:16-19
   2. Tobit 1:10 – Tobit was still alive when the northern kingdom was carried into captivity by the Assyrians (c. 720 BC)  - II Kings 17:1-6
   3. Tobit 14:1-2 – Tobit was 58 years old when he lost his sight.
   4. Tobit 2:9-10 – Tobit lost his sight while in Nineveh more than 200 years after his birth in Israel.
   5. Tobit 14:11 – Tobit died at 158 years old more than 300 years after his birth.
3. Captives carried to Nineveh
   1. Tobit 1:10 – Claims that Shalmaneser brought the captives to Nineveh.
   2. II Kings 17:6 – Claims that Shalmaneser placed the captives “in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.”
4. Tobit lies while bragging about his righteousness.
   1. Tobit 1:6 – Tobit claims to have been the only one who traveled from the northern kingdom to Jerusalem for the feasts.
   2. Tobit 5:13 – There were at least two other men who traveled to Jerusalem with Tobit.
5. Tobit is both unclean and clean.
   1. Tobit 2:1-5 – Tobit touches a dead man, cleanses himself, and then returns to his house to eat.
   2. Num. 19:11, 17-19 – Anyone who touches a dead man is unclean for seven days and must be washed with potash by someone who is clean.
   3. Num. 5:2, 31:19 – Anyone who touches a dead man is to be outside of the camp or the city for seven days.
   4. Tobit 2:9 – Tobit did not return to his house after burying the dead man, because he was unclean.
6. Salvation by works.
   1. Tobit 4:10-11 – Tobit tells his son that giving alms will deliver from death and darkness.
   2. Tobit 12:9 – An angel of God says that giving alms purges away sin.
   3. Tobit 14:11 – Tobit again speaks of salvation by works.
   4. Heb 9:22 – "without shedding of blood is no remission."
   5. Gal 2:16 – "a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ."
7. Withholding charity from the wicked.
   1. Tobit 4:17 – Give nothing to the wicked.
   2. Rom 12:20-21 – “if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink” (Prov 25:21-22)
   3. Matt 5:44 – “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.”
8. The angel that lied.
   1. Tobit 5:4 – Tobias found the angel Raphael
   2. Tobit 5:10-12 – The angel lied and said that he was the son of Tobit’s friend.
   3. Prov 12:22 – “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD.”
   4. Tobit 5:21 – Tobit knew that the angel was lying.
   5. Tobit 12:15-16 – Tobit did not know that the angel was lying.
9. The lying angel uses enchantments.
   1. Tobit 6:1-7, 16-17, 8:1-3 – The angel teaches Tobias how to make an enchantment.

Lev 19:26 – “Neither shall ye use enchantments.” (Deut 18:10)