Published by Many people imagine that Jesus made up the stories or parables that he told the vast crowds that often assembled to hear him speak. And this he did to a certain extent. His stories were always relevant to the everyday experiences of the men and women of the countryside. Shepherds, farmers, servants, fishermen figure largely in these accounts.
The story of “The Prodigal Son” is an exception. Here Jesus turned for his inspiration not to the everyday concerns of his hearers, but to a story they all knew, not only one of the most popular camp-fire stories in all Palestine, but one that was often discussed and referred to in the synagogues as well.
In the Old Testament, this story is preserved as the book entitled “Tobit” or “Tobias”. In Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, “Tobit” forms part of the accepted word of God. In Protestant Bibles, “Tobit” forms part of the so-called apocrypha.
In a brand-new translation, the story has been re-titled, “The Adventures of Toby”. Toby is the son who leaves his father, Tobias, to journey to a far country. But he is not a bad son. In fact, he is a good son who is making the journey to rescue his father from debt. His mother doesn’t want him to go, but he has to make this trip to collect a sum of money to rescue the family. His father is blind, so it is the mother who waits anxiously at the city gates for her son’s return.
“The Adventures of Toby” is not only one of the most thrilling but one of the most beautiful stories ever told. No wonder it was so well-known not only to Jesus himself but his listeners.
“The Adventures of Toby” has recently been re-translated and restored by John Howard Reid, who has included this book in “Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Orthodox Old Testament”. It is possible to read “The Adventures of Toby” at http://reidbooks.exactpages.com
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