Read it Yourself
Should the Letter of James be in the Canon or out?
Read here what some theologians have to say about the James. Are
their concerns valid? Are they actually rejecting James from the
Canon? You decide! Eusebius is a fourth century historian, Luther
a sixteenth century reformer, and John Wesley the founder of the
Methodist church.
Disputed Book? Eusebius
"At this point it seems reasonable to summarize the writings
of the NT which have been quoted. In the first place should be the
holy tetrad of the Gospels. To them follows the writing of the Acts
of the Apostles. After this should be reckoned the Epistles of Paul.
Following them the Epistles of John called the first, and in the
same way should be recognized the Epistle of Peter. In addition
to these should be put, if it seem desirable, the Revelation of
John, the arguments concerning which we will expound at the proper
time. These belong to the Recognized Books.
Of the Disputed Books which are nevertheless known to most are the
Epistle called James, that of Jude, the second Epistle of John which
may be the work of the evangelist or of some other with the same
name.
Among the books which are not genuine must be reckoned the Acts
of Paul, the work entitled the Shepherd, the Apocalypse of Peter,
and in addition to them the letter called of Barnabas and the so-called
teaching of the Apostles. And in addition, as I said, the Revelation
of John, if this view prevail. For, as I said, some reject it, but
others count it among the recognized books. Some have also counted
the Gospel according to the Hebrews in which those of the Hebrews
who have accepted Christ take a special pleasure." Ecclesiastical
History 3.25.1-5
Epistle of Straw? Luther
"Saint John's gospel and St. Paul's epistles, especially
that to the Romans, and St. Peter's first epistle are the true pit
and marrow of all the books. They should justly be the first books,
and every Christian should be advised to read them first and most,
and by daily reading to make them as familiar to himself as his
daily bread.
In them you do not find described many works and miracles of Christ;
but you do find depicted in a masterly manner how faith in Christ
overcomes sin, death, and hell, and gives life, righteousness, and
salvation. This is the real nature of the Gospel …
These books show you Christ and teach you all that is necessary
and salutary for you to known even though you were never to see
or hear any other book or doctrine. Therefore St. James epistle
is really an epistle of straw compared to them, for it lacks this
evangelical character."
(W-DB 6, 10 Plass 988)
and yet, about the New Testament itself, Luther says
The New Testament is only the gospel preached: "This is nothing
else than the message by which the Spirit is offered to us and grace
for the forgiveness of sins, purchased for us by Christ Crucified-and
all entirely free, through the pure mercy of God the Father, who
thus favors us unworthy creatures, who deserve damnation rather
than anything else."
After the gospel preached is the exhortations, which are to "animate
those who have already been justified" so that they might "Practice
love in good works, and courageously to bear the cross and all other
tribulations of this world" (W 18, 692 in Plass 987-988).
and yet, again, Luther quotes James
His comments on Prayer-do not ever give up on prayer, "Let
us, therefore, pray boldly and confidently" supported by James
5:16. (Plass 1097)
"So the question is asked: How can justification take place
without the works o f the Law, and how can no justification take
place by the works of the Law even though James clearly says: 'Faith
without works is dead' (2:26) and 'By works a man is justified'
(2:24), adducing the examples of Abraham and Rahab? And even Paul
says (Gal 5:6): 'Faith (which) worketh by love' and above (Rom 2:13):
'The doers of the Law shall be justified"? Answer: the apostle
distinguishes between the Law and faith, between the letter and
grace, and so also between their works. He calls those works 'works
of the Law' that are done without faith and grace, by the Law, which
forces them to be done through fear or through the enticing promise
of temporal advantages. But he calls these 'works of faith' which
are done in the spirit of liberty, purely out of love to God. And
these can be done only by those who are justified by faith. But
the works of the Law contribute nothing toward this justification,
nay, they greatly hinder it, because they will not let a man realize
that he is unjust and in need of justification. ...
"There when the blessed James and the apostle say that man
is justified by works, they are disputing the false conception of
those who contended that a faith without works would be sufficient.
However, the apostle does not say that faith is without its characteristic
works-for then there would be no faith at all since 'activity reveals
the nature of a thing' according to philosophers-but that it justifies
without the works of the Law. Therefore justification does not require
a living faith, which performs its works. (W 56, 248f in Plass 720-721).
Luther also uses James 1:14 to argue about sin that "the
great enticement is within you, and you must first run and flee
from yourself" (W 10 I, 1, in Plass 1302).
In James 2:26, Luther explains that before God, we are justified
by faith alone, without works, but "Before the people and
himself, he is justified through works, that is, he thereby becomes
known and certain himself that he honestly believes and is pious"
(W10 III, 287 f in Plass 1231).
James 4:7 "resist the devil" We should, in fact,
be afraid of sin and temptation, but "we should not stay in
terror; we should turn again to grace" (W-T 1, No. 407). (p
1349)
Also in response to temptation, Luther exhorts us to call upon God
and pray (James 5:13)
(W-T 1, No. 956 in Plass 1350)
Ewald M. Plass, compiler, What Luther Says: An Anthology Three
Volumes. (St. Louis MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1959).
W is the Weimar Edition of Luther's Works
W-Br is the Weimar Edition of Luther's Letters Briefe
W-DB is the Weimar Edition Deutsche Bibel
W-T is the Weimar Edition Tischreden
Faith Without Works is Dead! John Wesley
Study on John Wesley: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/
John Wesley, How
to Read Scripture: http|//gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/bible.stm
John Wesley preaches
James 1:4 On patience:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-083.stm
James 4:4 On Friendship With the World:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-080.stm
1 Timothy 6:9 The Danger of Riches:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-087.stm
Luke 16:9 The Use of Money:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-050.stm
Luke 16:31 The Rich Man and Lazarus:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-112.stm
Matthew 5:1-4 Sermon on the Mount:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-021.stm
Matthew 19:24 On Riches:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/sermons/serm-108.stm
John Wesley preaches on The Character of a Methodist:
gbgm-umc.org/UMhistory/Wesley/charmeth.stm
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