Luther apparently thought the Book of James (among a few others) were second-rate, almost non-canonical books. The theological term for this is antilegomena (spoken-against, or disputed) books. While this idea may be shocking to the modern evangelical, Luther presents some good arguments in his introductions in his 1522 Geneva Bible.
In the first place it is flatly against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture in ascribing justification to works... This fault, therefore, 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...Whatever does not teach Christ is not apostolic...
Moreover he cites the sayings of St. Peter... also the saying of St. Paul ... And yet, in point of time, St. James was put to death by Herod in Jerusalem, before St. Peter. So it seems that this author came long after St. Peter and St. Paul....
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