. .From a Lutheran perspective, the only essential difference is that SS holds scripture to be the sole final norm. . .
. . .Now, what modern world is calling Sola Scriptura does bother me greatly - but that’s not what Luther taught, or what Lutherans should be doing. . . .
Jon & ben,
I was hoping one or both of you would comment on the way Luther used Sola Scriptura. Luther only applied Sola Scriptura to the Books
he judged to be worthy.
**Cut & Paste from Post #78:. . .**Luther wrote Prefaces for Books in his German Bible. In his Preface to the Epistles of Saint James and Saint Jude, he wrote:
. . .
"However, to state my own opinion about it, though without prejudice to anyone, I do not regard it as the writing of an apostle, and my reasons follow.
In the first place it **is flatly against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture in ascribing justification to works ** 2:24). It says that Abraham was justified by his works when he offered his son Isaac (2:20); Though in Romans 4:22-22 St. Paul teaches to the contrary that Abraham was justified apart from works, by his faith alone, before he had offered his son, and proves it by Moses in Genesis 15:6. Although it would be possible to “save” the epistle by a gloss giving a correct explanation of justification here ascribed to works, it is impossible to deny that it does refer to Moses’ words in Genesis 15 (which speaks not of Abraham’s works but of his faith, just as Paul makes plain in Romans 4) to Abraham’s works.
This fault proves that this epistle is not the work of any apostle.
In the second place** its purpose is to teach Christians, but in all this long teaching it does not once mention the Passion, the resurrection, or the Spirit of Christ.
He names Christ several times; however he teaches nothing about him, but only speaks of general faith in God. 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, I 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." (
ibid).
**But this James does nothing more than drive to the law and its works. **Besides, he throws things together so chaotically that it seems to me he must have been some good, pious man, who took a few sayings from the disciples of the apostles and thus tossed them off on paper. Or it may perhaps have been written by someone on the basis of his preaching. He calls the law a “law of liberty” [1:25], though Paul calls it a law of slavery, of wrath, of death, and of sin. . . .
. . . .In a word, **he wanted to guard against those who relied on faith without works, but was unequal to the task **
in spirit, thought, and words. He mangles the Scriptures and thereby opposes Paul and all Scripture. He tries to accomplish by harping on the law what the apostles accomplish by stimulating people to love.
Therefore I cannot include him among the chief books, though I would not thereby prevent anyone from including or extolling him as he pleases, for there are otherwise many good sayings in him. Therefore I will not have him in my Bible to be numbered among the true chief books, though I would not thereby prevent anyone from including or extolling him as he pleases, for there are otherwise many good sayings in him. One man is no man in worldly things; how then, should this single man alone avail against Paul and all Scripture.
Concerning the epistle of St. Jude,
. . .Therefore, although I value this book, it is an epistle that need not be counted among the chief books which are supposed to lay the foundations of faith."
Links:
A look at the preface to James and Jude
Preface To The Epistles of Saint James and Saint Jude 1545 (1522)
See also Luther’s criticisms of Revelation:
“. . .it to be neither apostolic nor prophetic. . .”
“. . . .I think of it almost as I do of the Fourth Book of Esdras, and can nohow detect that the
Holy Spirithttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=godruleslinks-20&l=ur2&o=1 produced it. . . .”
“. . . .let everyone think of it as his own spirit gives him to think. My spirit cannot fit itself into this book. . . .”
Link: Preface to the Revelation of Saint John (2) 1522 FT510
