Summary of Ecclesiastes Date and Place: The book was written in Palestine about 1,000 B.C. Author: Solomon (Eccles. 1:1,12; Eccles. 2:7-9; Eccles. 12:9-10). His authorship was never questioned by Jews or Christians until recent years. Attempts to prove that Ecclesiastes was written by anyone other than Solomon are totally lacking in authority. Theme: The book records Solomon's reasonings "under the sun" while he was in a backslidden condition. See evidences below. The word Ecclesiastes is taken from "The Preacher" in the Septuagint (Eccles. 1:1). It means "one who convenes or addresses an assembly." Purpose: To show the utter fallacy that earthly sins, pleasures, and pursuits are the chief end in life and the source of happiness; and to show the final conclusion of the whole of life-to fear God and keep His commandments if one would live forever with Him. That is, true religion is the chief thing in life and the only eternally rewarding thing of all. Statistics: 21st book of the Bible; 12 chapters; 222 verses; 5,584 words; 33 questions; 34 commands; no prophecy; 1 promise; and no message from God. The Words of the Preacher These are "the words of the preacher," not the words of God; and this is how it should be understood, except that we must recognize that Solomon was a backslidden preacher when this book was written. These words are the reasonings, searchings, and findings of a natural man "under the sun," a natural man seeking to satisfy his soul. Ten Evidences of Backsliding: 1. His attitude toward creation and human life, everything on earth being considered vain, empty, and extremely vexing. (1) The term "vanity of vanities" is used 3 times (Eccles. 1:2; Eccles. 12:8). (2) "Vanity and vexation of spirit" is used 7 times (Eccles. 1:14; Eccles. 2:11,17,26; Eccles. 4:4,16; Eccles. 6:9). (3) "All is vanity" is used 5 times (Eccles. 1:2,14; Eccles. 2:17; Eccles. 3:19; Eccles. 12:8). (4) "Divers vanities" is used once (Eccles. 5:7). 1
(5) "This is also vanity" is used 13 times (Eccles. 2:1,15,19,21,23; Eccles. 4:4,8; Eccles. 5:10; Eccles. 6:2,9; Eccles. 7:6; Eccles. 8:10,14). (6) Vanity is used 8 times in various ways (Eccles. 4:7; Eccles. 6:4,11; Eccles. 7:15; Eccles. 8:14; Eccles. 9:9; Eccles. 11:8,10). Life itself was considered vanity. (7) The words vanity and vanities are used 37 times throughout this short book, compared to 62 times in all the other books of the Bible. 2. His reasonings "under the sun" prove he was not speaking as an inspired preacher in harmony with God. The expression "under the sun" is used 29 times. No inspired preacher or prophet of God in any other book so reasons about things under the sun as Solomon. This must have been the period of his life after his wives had turned his heart away from Jehovah (1 Kings 11:1-10). He had 1,000 women in all 700 wives and 300 concubines. His reference to them in Eccles. 7:26-28 seems to indicate this as the time of his backsliding. He declared he had considered one by one and had not found a true woman-one who was pure and free from seductive traits, whereas, he had found one man among all his trusted servants. Compare this natural reasoning under the sun with the true teachings of a preacher who was not backslidden in heart (Matthew 6:25-34; Col. 3:1-4). 3. His general dissatisfaction with life (Eccles. 1:8; Eccles. 4:8) indicates a backslidden heart. A true man of God will be satisfied and contented (Psalm 22:26; Psalm 36:8; Phil. 4:11; Hebrews 13:5). 4. What he gave his heart over to during this time proves it was not right: (1) He gave his heart to seek and search things done under the sun instead of devoting himself to the conversion of men to things above the sun; i.e., heavenly things (Eccles. 1:13) (2) He gave his heart over to know madness and folly, something no true sincere preacher would do (Eccles. 1:17) (3) He gave his heart over to wine, folly, mirth and pleasure without restraint (Eccles. 2:1-3) (4) He fulfilled all his lusts and passions, not withholding his heart from any kind of joy and pleasure (Eccles. 2:10) (5) He deliberately caused his heart to despair (Eccles. 2:20) (6) He gave his heart to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness (Eccles. 7:25) 5. His self-exaltation proves that his heart was not right (Eccles. 1:16; Eccles. 2:4-9). Solomon constantly referred to himself, using "I" 87 times, "me" 17 times, "my" 22 times, "myself" 4 times, and "mine" 9 times in 222 verses, as compared to the writing of John, the beloved preacher of the N.T., who used none of these personal pronouns in his entire Gospel of 879 verses. 2
6. Being surprised that his wisdom still remained in him while his heart was in this condition indicates that he was not right (Eccles. 2:9). 7. His hatred of life shows that he had no peace with God (Eccles. 2:17). He actually praised the dead as being better off than the living (Eccles. 4:2-3). 8. His selfishness-worrying about leaving his works to others after his death proves he was not right in heart and had no love for others (Eccles. 2:18-19). 9. He advocated four wrong principles concerning sin and principles of living, which no preacher in harmony with God will do: (1) Enjoy mirth, pleasure and wine-drinking and drunkenness (Eccles. 2:1-3; Eccles. 9:7) (2) Nothing better in life than to eat, drink, be merry (Eccles. 2:24-25; Eccles. 8:15) (3) Nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his own works (Eccles. 3:22) (4) Money answers all things (Eccles. 10:19) 10. He taught several false doctrines which he no doubt would not have taught had he been normal in his spiritual life: (1) All things in life are vanity and vexation of spirit. (2) No new thing under the sun (Eccles. 1:9-10; Eccles. 3:15). Because Solomon said this, some think that nothing whatsoever can be invented which did not exist in the past; but Daniel predicted an increase of knowledge and this would indicate many new things (Daniel 12:4). (3) No former things remembered (Eccles. 1:11). All things, good and bad, will be remembered and everyone will be judged for them (2 Cor. 5:9-10; Rev. 20:11-15). (4) Crooked things cannot be made straight (Eccles. 1:15; Eccles. 7:13). Not only is it possible to make things straight, but this has been done in all ages, both regarding material things and crooked ways of life. See Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 42:16; Isaiah 45:2; Luke 3:5. (5) Increasing knowledge increases sorrow (Eccles. 1:18). This is true when knowledge is used in a wrong way as Solomon used his at various times in this book. When he used it in the right way it increased joy and brought rewards; even Solomon himself recognized this (Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 9:9). The N.T. encourages an increase in knowledge (2 Peter 1:1-10; 2 Peter 3:18). (6) No remembrance of the wise more than of the fool, and the past will be forgotten (Eccles. 1:11; Eccles. 2:16). See statements to the contrary (Psalm 112:6; Malachi 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:9-10; Rev. 20:11-15). (7) The day of death is better than the day of birth (Eccles. 7:1). This is not true of the wicked (Matthew 26:24; Luke 16:19-31; Isaiah 14:9). (8) No just man upon the earth-one that does good and does not sin (Eccles. 7:20). This is contradicted by Romans 5:1-11; Romans 6:14-23; Romans 8:1-3
13; 2 Cor. 5:17-21;10:4-5; Titus 2:11-13; 1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:5-10; 1 John 4:1-4,18. Besides the above wrong principles and false doctrines, Solomon advocated many right things, for his wisdom remained with him during the period of backsliding, and when he respected what such wisdom revealed he gave good advice and made true statements. Eighteen Truths that Solomon Stated: (1) Eternal generations (Eccl. 1:4) (2) Earth eternal (Eccl. 1:4) (3) Sun circuits (Eccl. 1:6) (4) Wind circuits (Eccl. 1:6) (5) Water circuits (Eccl. 1:7) (6) Wisdom excells folly (Eccl. 2:13) (7) Seasons and times for all things (Eccl. 3:1-8) (8) Creation made perfect (Eccl. 3:11) (9) God is judge of man and will render to all their just dues (Eccl. 3:17; 5:7-8; 11:9; 12:14). (10) Both men and beasts die physically and go back to dust (Eccl. 3:19; 6:6; 12:7; Gen. 2:7,19; 3:19). (11) Spirits of both men and beasts are not made of dust; and these go into the keeping of God at death (Eccl. 3:21; 12:7). (12) Two are better than one (Eccl. 4:9-12). (13) Better is a poor and wise child that will take correction than an old and foolish king that will not be admonished (Eccl. 4:13). (14) The profit from the earth is for all men (Eccl. 5:9). (15) Riches are only temporary (Eccl. 5:12-15). (16) A good name is better than precious ointments (Eccl. 7:1). 4
(17) Dead bodies know nothing (Eccl. 9:5). (18) There is no human activity, such as work, in hell (She'owl) (Eccl. 9:10). Twenty-six Points of Good Advise He Gave: (1) Keep your foot from sin when you go to the house of God (Eccl. 5:1). (2) Be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools (Eccl. 5:1). (3) Do not make quick vows to God (Eccl. 5:2). (4) Let your words be few before God (Eccl. 5:2). (5) Be sure to pay vows to God (Eccl. 5:4). (6) Better not to vow than to vow and refuse to pay it (Eccl. 5:5). (7) Say not to the recording angel that your sin was only an error (Eccl. 5:6). (8) Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin (Eccl. 5:6). (9) Fear God (Eccl. 5:6; 8:12). (10) Accept no bribe, for it destroys the heart (Eccl. 7:7). (11) Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry like a fool (Eccl. 7:9). (12) Be joyful in the day of prosperity, and in the day of adversity consider (Eccl. 7:14). (13) Do not depend upon human merit or doing good as a basis of dealing with God (Eccl. 7:16). (14) Do not pretend to be wise, for you will make yourself lonely (Eccl. 7:16). (15) Do not be wicked and foolish, for you will reap what you sow (Eccl. 7:17). (16) Do not take to heart all the words that you hear; that is, do not be anxious to hear everything spoken, lest you hear something that will hurt you (Eccl. 7:21). 5
(17) Keep the king's commandment, as the oath of God (Eccl. 8:2). (18) Do not be hasty in going from the presence of a king, lest you become an object of suspicion (Eccl. 8:3). (19) Do not stand for any evil thing (Eccl. 8:3). (20) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Eccl. 9:10). (21) In time of trouble, yield in order to pacify offense (Eccl. 10:4). (22) Do not curse a king or a rich man, not even in your thought, for he will know of it (Eccl. 10:20). (23) Cast your bread upon the water, for it will return after many days (Eccl. 11:1). (24) Remove sorrow from your heart (Eccl. 11:10). (25) Put away evil from your flesh (Eccl. 11:10). (26) Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Eccl. 12:13-14). Dake's Study Notes www.dake.com/dake/truestory.html 6