In fine, Saint John’s Gospel and his first Epistle, Saint Paul’s Epistles, especially those to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Saint Peter’s first Epistle-these are the books which show thee Christ, and teach thee everything that is needful and blessed for thee to know even though thou never see or hear any other book of doctrine. Luther’s view of this book was stated in his introduction to his New Testament, first published in 1522: 1 A Lesson From Lutherĭuring the Reformation, the Book of James again came under careful scrutiny due to the influence of Martin Luther. 397, virtually assured its recognition as a part of our New Testament. Its acceptance by Jerome and Augustine, as well as its inclusion by the Third Council of Carthage in A.D. Eusebius placed it among the disputed books, but accepted it personally and quoted it as Scripture. Although other church fathers may have alluded to the Book of James, Origin, in his commentary on John, is the first writer to refer to the epistle by name and identify it as Scripture. James, as well as Hebrews and one epistle of John, is missing from the second century Muratorian Canon, a document which listed those books accepted as Scripture by the church as early as A.D. Books that were most readily accepted into the New Testament canon were those written by apostles, whose doctrine and teaching accorded with other writings of the New Testament, and that were commonly regarded as Scripture by the churches as a whole. Perhaps the greatest reason for this delay was due to the question of its authorship. The obscure placement of this book is indicative of the initial reluctance the early church had accepting it and several other books into the canon of Scripture. This is because it was hidden away at the very back of the English Bible, along with Hebrews, Jude, and Revelation. Indeed, you would not have found the Book of James included among the New Testament books at all.
Up to that time, you would not have found the book where it is today in any English translation. Prior to 1539, if one had said, “Turn with me to the first chapter of the Book of James,” there would have been a great rustling of pages in the congregation, with many puzzled looks.