LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Brock University

ZWECK: LUTHER ON JAMES 69
apostle, and my reasons follow.” 50 In other words, a different question is
being answered in this preface from the question that was being answered in
the Preface to the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the third place, after giving his
reasons based upon the content of the Epistle for considering the Epistle to
be non-apostolic, Luther explicitly asserts the right of others to reach a
different conclusion: “I would not thereby prevent anyone from including
him or extolling him as he pleases.” 51
Then examine the first reason he gives: “In the first place it is flatly
against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture in ascribing justification to
works [2:24].” 52 The context makes it plain that Luther is speaking in terms
of Paul “and all the rest of Scripture”, and not James “and all the rest of
Scripture”. Note also the implication in the phrase, “although this epistle
might be helped and an interpretation devised for this justification by
works”. 53 The implication behind Luther’s whole line of argumentation is
that, if the Epistle is part of Scripture, it cannot contradict any other part of
Scripture; accordingly, if it contradicts any clear passage of Scripture, it
cannot be Scripture. Luther’s whole line of argumentation here is
incompatible with the assumption of different degrees of inspiration within
Scripture.
Luther’s second argument against the apostolicity of James is that this
epistle teaches only a general faith in God, and not, specifically, faith in the
atoning merit of Christ; whereas an apostle is, by definition, an apostle of
Jesus Christ:
Now it is the office of a true apostle to preach of the Passion and
resurrection and office of Christ, and to lay the foundation for faith in
him, as Christ himself says in John 15[:27], “You shall bear witness to
me.” All the genuine sacred books agree in this, that all of them preach
and inculcate [treiben ] Christ. And that is the true test by which to judge
all books, when we see whether or not they inculcate Christ. For all the
Scriptures show us Christ, Romans 3[:21]; and St. Paul will know
nothing but Christ, 1 Corinthians 2[:2]. Whatever does not teach Christ is
not yet apostolic, even though St. Peter or St. Paul does the teaching.
Again, whatever preaches Christ would be apostolic, even if Judas,
Annas, Pilate, and Herod were doing it. 54
What is particularly noteworthy in all this is that, when Luther
discusses the status of James on the basis of the external historical evidence,
he simply presents the objective fact, without qualification: the early church
50 AE 35:396.
51 AE 35:397.
52 AE 35:396.
53 AE 35:396.
54 AE 35:396.