2 months ago

It is all too popular for the adversaries of Martin Luther to throw out the dreaded “Epistle of Straw” argument. But what did Luther mean?
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Martin Luther is often attacked by Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox as wanting to remove the book of James from the Bible. This hatred Luther had for James supposedly culminated in calling it the “Epistle of Straw.” This argument is so prevalent that even Protestants have cited it, calling it a blunder on Luther’s part. Critics will also say that the only reason Luther hated James was that James contradicted his doctrine of Justification by faith alone and therefore didn’t want it in the bible at all.
But I have a sinking suspicion that this is not exactly what it seems…

https://www.acton.org/pub/commentary/2016/03/30/martin-luther-vocation-and-serving-our-neighbors
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250102.htm
https://vivacatholic.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/eusebius-and-canon-of-new-testament/#:~:text=Disputed%20books%20include%20James%2C%20Jude%2C%202%20Peter%2C%202,Didache%2C%20but%20also%20Revelation%20belong%20to%20rejected%20books.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-23-me-48955-story.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9C%5BThe%20Book%20of%20Revelation%5D,each%20other%20with%20their%20cruelty.
https://www.catholicbridge.com/orthodox/why-orthodox-bible-is-different-from-catholic.php
https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/new-testament/book-of-revelation
https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/wholecounsel/2018/08/15/is-the-book-of-revelation-canonical-in-the-orthodox-church/

11 On the term “straw” cf. Luther’s reference on p. 395 to 1 Cor. 3:12. Luther’s sharp expression may have been in part a reaction against Karlstadt’s excessive praise of the book of James. Cf. WA, DB 6, 537, n. 10, 6–34, and the literature there listed.
12 See especially the Preface to James in this volume, pp. 395–398. Cf. also Luther’s negative estimate of the book of James already in his 1520 Babylonian Captivity of the Church in LW 36, 118, and in his Resolutiones of 1519 in WA 2, 425. Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 35 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 362.

https://wolfmueller.co/martin-luthers-prefaces-books-bible-published/

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America and, unless otherwise stated, my opinions are my own and I do not speak as a representative for my Diocese. That is what my Bishop is for. For more information on the ELDoNA visit eldona.org

#reformation #faithalone #bookofjames #protestant #martinluther #lutheran_church

00:00 Part One: Martin Luther said WHAT?!?
02:40 The Biblical Argument for the Epistle of Straw
05:08 The Historical Argument
09:45 Did Luther REALLY want to remove James?
11:50 More Clarity from Luther
14:23 Part Two: Are you there James?
15:52 Understanding the Book of James
19:27 Summary