At one point in his career, martin luther famously stated, st. Scholarships singular concentration on luthers criticism of james as an epistle of straw has caused many to overlook luthers sermons on james, the many places where james comes to full expression in luthers writings, and the influence that luthers biblical interpretation had on later interpretations of james. He called it an epistle of straw, seeing it clearly rejected eternal security. It seems he felt disappointed that it didnt contain any exalted description of christ, nor make reference to the work of the spirit, and didnt work hard to defend the faith. James epistle is a perfect straw epistle compared with them. The book of james is directed to jewish christians scattered among all the nations james 1. Was luther justified in calling james an epistle of straw.
James epistle is a perfect strawepistle compared with them, for it has in it nothing of an evangelic kind. He didnt think it expressed the nature of the gospel, it appeared to contradict pauls statements about justification by faith, and it didnt directly mention christ. The epistle of james is no epistle of straw, but instead it advocates building with gold on the foundation of christ and faith. Martin luther and the book of james shameless popery.
No single biblical book or apostolic epistle not even romans tells the. He also considered the relocation of the book of esther from the canon to the apocrypha, because without the. James s epistle is really a right strawy epistle, compared to these others, for it. Although there is practical and theoretical information woven throughout the epistle, the letter. He called it an epistle of straw, seeing it clearly rejected.
Muhlenberg press, 1932, ed by the united lutheran church in america, vol. In fact, luther referred to the book of james as an epistle of straw and sought unsuccessfully to have the entire book removed from sacred. According to the book of acts, james, the brother of john, was killed by herod agrippa i acts 12. It is not destitute of evangelic character but rather characteristic of. In terming the book of james a veritable epistle of straw, and destitute of evangelic character, he is responsible for turning many away from this portion. In the leipzig debate of 1519, roman catholic scholar johann eck used it to challenge martin luthers view of justification by faith alone, insisting that works needed to be added to the equation. A series of 11 sermons on the epistle of james preached by lee irons sermon 1. My goal is to do an accurate exegesis of the epistle, but also to relate it to our christian living. He did this because it proclaimed the necessity of good works, contrary to his heresy. Therefore st james epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it. It seems he felt disappointed that it didnt contain any exalted description of christ, nor make reference to the work of the spi.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of james. This work is a, introduction, survey and commentary on the letter by james. I have chosen the book of james, and i have done so for several reasons. Martin luther book of james epistle of straw brian. But the epistle of james is not an epistle of straw. So, the epistle appears to have been written late in the first century or early in the. Martin luther rejected the epistle of james as apostolic, calling it worthless and an epistle of straw. Therefore st james epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has. I praise it and consider it a good book, because it sets up no. Luther and the epistle of straw the calvinist international. James contains many expressions that will be used in monastic and ascetical life. Frustrated by religious leaders who claimed this book supported their mistaken ideas that people could buy their salvation through monetary gifts to the church, luther uttered his illadvised phrase. True both paul and james look to the story of this old testament character for a model of faith.
The epistle of james has been one of the most misunderstood books of the bible. If hes right about this, then either the bible is wrong, or protestants are wrong. The bible is consistent and plain in its teaching that salvation is a gift from god. Martin luther, founder of the protestant reformation, referred to the book of james as an epistle of straw.
James s epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it german new testament, preface, 1522 ed. Heretic martin luther says the book of james is an. Martin luther didnt seem overly impressed with the bible letter by james, describing it as a right strawy epistle. It is a welldocumented fact that martin luther is quoted as having said that the book of the new testament called james was an epistle of straw. Six points on luthers epistle of straw almost five hundred years after the fact, roman catholics still scrutinize martin luther. Martin luther, who detested this letter and called it the epistle of straw, failed to recognize that james s teaching on works complementednot contradictedpauls teaching on faith. James, however, he thinks is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. James epistle is really an epistle of straw, for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it. Martin luther considered james an epistle of straw because it contained nothing of the nature of the gospel in comparison to most new testament books. Luther removed this statement from later editions and even had good.
Since the time of the reformation, the book of james has been controversial. Six points on luthers epistle of straw james white. James was rejected by the ancients, i praise it and hold it a good book, because it sets up no doctrine of men and lays great stress. What the bible says about james called epistle of straw bible tools. Not only did he do that but he even removed the book of james from the new testament calling it an epistle of straw and claiming that some evil jew had written it to lead christians astray and it was put back in after the cajoling of the other reformers p. The holy bible book 59 james kjv dramatized audio duration. When you referred to james as an epistle of straw, you did not. James epistle is a perfect straw epistle compared with them, for it has martin luthers description of the epistle of james changes. First, ever since martin luther rejected james as an epistle of straw, this book has given protestants. James epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it. What the bible says about james called epistle of straw.
In the leipzig debate of 1519, roman catholic scholar johann eck used it to challenge martin luthers view of justification by faith alone, insisting that works needed to. In luthers preface to the new testament, published in 1522, revised in 1545, in the works of martin luther, philadelphia. Luthers canon is the biblical canon attributed to martin luther, which has influenced. The book of james, which martin luther called the epistle of straw holds a special place in the hearts of those who follow my anabaptist. Chasing down the luther quotes about james taylor marshall. While the lutheran confessions specifically did not define a canon, it is widely regarded as the canon of the lutheran church. Introduction to the book of james 51202 this morning we begin a new sermon series. In other words, luther taught that the book of james contradicted the doctrine of sola fide, or justification by faith alone. Luthers canon is the biblical canon attributed to martin luther, which has influenced protestants since the 16thcentury protestant reformation. A series of 11 sermons on the epistle of james preached by. It differs from the 1546 roman catholic canon of the council of trent in that it rejects the deuterocanonical books and.
One the most popular quotations from luther is the infamous epistle of straw remark, directed at the canonicity of the book of james. Those just learning it should not be surprised when they read it, though. Martin luther, founder of the protestant reformation, referred to the book of james as an epistle of. Pauls epistles, especially romans, galatians, and ephesians, and st. Luther famously referred to the book of james as an epistle of straw, purportedly because of its lackluster portrayal of the gospel and the ease. James has therefore been vindicated by the truth of the word of god.
I do not hold it to be his writing, and i cannot place it among the capital books. Belief in this teaching was one of the major reasons why martin luther rejected the book of james. James epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to them. A brief evaluation of his statement on the basis of his own exegesis.
Luthers comment about james being an epistle of straw, as compared to the theological signifiance of pauls writings, is his most well known comment on the book. Luthers works 35, 362 the epistle of james gives us much trouble, for the papists embrace it alone and leave out all the restaccordingly, if they will not admit my interpretations, then i shall. Martin luthers problem with the epistle of straw luther removed seven entire books from the old testament, and fought to strip away sections of the new testament as well kathy schiffer. This fault, therefore, proves that this epistle is not the work of any apostle. Pauls epistles, especially those to the romans, galatians, ephesians, and st. We must keep the commandments and have faith in god. Peters epistle these are the books which show to thee christ. The writer refers to himself only as james, a servant of god and of the lord jesus christ. Luthers canon is the biblical canon attributed to martin luther, which has influenced however, these books are ordered last in the germanlanguage luther bible to this day. Peters first epistle are the books that show you christ and teach you all that is necessary and salvatory for you to know, even if you were never to see or hear any other book. James, a younger half brother of jesus, wrote his epistle in harmony with jesus actions and instructions.
I praise it and consider it a good book, because it sets up no doctrines of men but vigorously promulgates the. James makes it clear that a persons works are important to his salvation, because he states that faith without works is dead. What does the epistle of straw represent in the bible. Martin luther, the celebrated catalyst of the protestant reformation, famously took issue with the book of james. But, even though it is a gift, something we cannot earn, we are expected to obey god if we are to receive that gift. The subject matter of the book is mostly moral, that is, it was written.
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