Luther's Doubts About James

Yes, Martin Luther, the prominent figure of the Protestant Reformation, expressed some reservations about the Epistle of James in the New Testament. In his early teachings, Luther questioned the canonicity of the Book of James and its inclusion in the New Testament. This was due to his theological emphasis on salvation by faith alone, which he believed was a central teaching of the Apostle Paul.

Luther famously referred to the Book of James as an "epistle of straw" in comparison to the writings of Paul, because he felt that James emphasized works and deeds as important for salvation, which seemed to contradict his understanding of justification by faith alone. In his prefaces to the New Testament, he included a disclaimer about the value of the Book of James.

However, it's important to note that Luther's views evolved over time. While he initially had reservations about James, he later came to accept it as part of the New Testament canon, though his theological focus on faith as the primary means of salvation remained unchanged.

In summary, while Martin Luther did express doubts about the Book of James due to its apparent emphasis on works, he did eventually acknowledge its place within the New Testament, even though his primary theological emphasis remained on faith alone for salvation.