Since the Canon is composed only of inspired writings, are all the books of equal value? What was Luther’s view?
Yes, they are all of equal value. However, Luther viewed them with unequal value. He has list of several books that he considered as higher than the rest of the New Testament canon.
The New Testament Canon composed of inspired writings as proven by former and later Biblical Scholars in the Christian world. They were agreed of their inspiration and authority as the message of God to man. God has not given indication to which book is superior to the other but rather, He sent His message to certain group of people in a certain occasion or situation. Thus, each has its significance. One book is most needed in the time of its relevance and other book is highly needed also in another time which its most relevance. Example, the book of Mathew is most needed to the Jews who have not understood Jesus as the Messiah but not as that relevance to the Gentiles because they could not understand the Old Testament terms but Luke and Paul’s epistles are better for them. However, they were not in contradiction each other but they were dealing with “different occasion” or “situation.”
However, James was dealing with another situation or problem. Paul epistle is most needed to those who do not know and accepted the grace of God in Christ, to those who were legalist while James was most needed in the times of people who abuse God’s grace and or those having presumption faith. Each book has its own emphasis according to the occasion or problem it’s dealing with. Thus, each is very important and valuable and most of all, all of them are of God, the most Superior one. All have come from the same one ultimate Author with the same inspiration.
[1] Viertel, Wieldon E. The Bible And Its Interpretation. Makati, Philippines: Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc., 1973, p. 141.
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