Ecclesiastes Life Under the Sun
What was the authorship and date of Ecclesiastes? How is Ecclesiastes arranged? What are the key theological themes in the Ecclesiastes? How does Ecclesiastes point us to Jesus and the NT?
Before approaching Ecclesiastes, some may wonder: What is this book doing in our Bibles anyway? C. I. Scofield: This is the book of man under the sun, reasoning about life; it is the best man can do, with the knowledge that there is a holy God, and that He will bring everything into judgment Inspiration sets down accurately what passes, but the conclusions and reasonings are man s. That those conclusions are just in declaring it vanity, in view of the judgment, to devote life to earthly things is surely true; but the conclusion is legal, the best that man apart from redemption can do, and does not anticipate the Gospel.
At some level, before you get into the introductory issues, we have to confront these questions should Christians bother with Ecclesiastes? Is this a merely legal book that doesn t anticipate the Gospel? Is this book merely human wisdom? The answer that I would give is this: Ecclesiastes is a book that teaches us to view appraise this accurately so that we might fear God and so gain a heart of wisdom.
What was the authorship and date of Ecclesiastes? There are three major theories about authorship of Ecclesiastes: Traditional The traditional position has been that Solomon was the author. The book describes the Preacher as the son of David, king in Jerusalem (1:1, 13), someone who was very wise (1:16), someone who had a prosperous reign and gave reign to his appetites (2:1-16). The thought was that this book described Solomon s search for wisdom between the building of the temple through his apostasy (1 Kings 11:1-13), but then to a final conversion and return to God (12:9-14).
What was the authorship and date of Ecclesiastes? There are three major theories about authorship of Ecclesiastes, which also get towards dating the book as well: Traditional (cf. 970-930 BC) The problems with Solomonic authorship include: The Preacher claims that many proceeded him as king in Jerusalem (1:16, 2:7, 9); that injustice and oppression were openly practiced (3:16-17, 4:1-3, 8:10-11), and that he had observed the folly of kings and their abuse of power (4:13-16, 8:2-9, 10:5-6). There is also some disagreement over the nature of the Hebrew in Ecclesiastes the longstanding opinion was that the Hebrew style and syntax was post exilic; but now the opinion has shifted and it is claimed that it is pre-exilic, putting it closer to Solomon s time.
What was the authorship and date of Ecclesiastes? There are three major theories about authorship of Ecclesiastes: Critical (between 250-200 BC) The critical position claims that the book was written by a heterodox wisdom teacher in the post exilic period (around 250 BC). Some later editor then attempted to piece together his teaching and modify it with an orthodox conclusion, but the book is plagued by contradictions. This teacher posed as Solomon in order to gain authority and to single standing in the wisdom tradition.
What was the authorship and date of Ecclesiastes? There are three major theories about authorship of Ecclesiastes: Pseudonym/anonymous The book doesn t claim authorship and is strictly speaking anonymous. The Preacher (the Hebrew word Qohelet) takes on the guise of Solomon just in chapters 1-2 in order to explore the wisdom and folly of one of Israel s wisest and greatest kings. Some (T. Longman) argue that there are actually two voices in the book Qohelet the wisdom teacher and then a narrator who opens and closes the book. The narrator ends up contradicting and correcting Qohelet s sometimes unbiblical counsel. While the dating isn t certain, the Hebrew would seem to point to a period directly prior to the exile (Hezekiah s time??).
How is Ecclesiastes arranged? Ecclesiastes is a difficult book to outline because it is another anthology or collection: the book contains poetry, narrative, proverbial sayings, and brief mediations. Another thing that makes the book difficult to outline is determining the book s divisions. The outline that I ve provided you breaks the book down into a series of meditations with a prologue, central interlude, and conclusion. The themes of the meditations begin to repeat themselves in the second half of the book. The themes, though, clearly align with classic wisdom concerns: the contrast between wisdom and folly, the foolishness of trusting wealth or power, the need for the fear of the Lord.
What are the key theological themes in the Ecclesiastes? Ecclesiastes is one of those books where it helps to read the end first: 12:9-14. In this regard, then, Ecclesiastes is like Job and Proverbs wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord; folly comes when we turn away from the fear of the Lord and pursue this world for its own sake (cf. 9:11-10:20).
What are the key theological themes in the Ecclesiastes? Apart from the fear of the Lord, what does life profit? Life is vanity apart from the fear of the Lord (1:2-11) What this life offers is a series of dead-ends (1:12-2:26): pleasure (2:1-11), prudence (2:12-17), possessions (2:18-23) Life is lonely for those who succeed (4:7-8, 13-16) Money never satisfies, but leaves an unsatiated craving for more (5:8-17, 6:1-9) Traditional morality won t satisfy the heart because it doesn t forge a relationship with God, but rather attempts to manipulate him (7:15-29). Old age, death and judgment is the end for all those who live life in this world (3:16-4:6; 9:1-6, 12:1-8)
What are the key theological themes in the Ecclesiastes? With the fear of the Lord, God s good gifts may be enjoyed (2:24-26; 9:7-10). We are encouraged to seize God s day, knowing that he has created us for these seasons as well as for eternity (3:1-16) We are encouraged to come to God s house to learn afresh the fear of the Lord (5:1-7). Those who fear the Lord are content with the good gifts that God gives they have the power to enjoy what God gives because they know that it is all God s gift (5:18-20). Those who fear the Lord correctly evaluate what is important in this life rebuke, sorrow, patience preparing us for the world to come (7:1-14)
How does Ecclesiastes point us to Jesus and the NT? Jesus is the Preacher par excellence, teaching on the wisdom of fearing God and the folly of living for this world (Matthew 16:26). Jesus warns about the folly of serving money and rejecting the fear of the Lord (Matthew 6:24). Jesus comes to deliver us and his world from frustration and vanity and to renew us in freedom and enjoyment (Romans 8:18-25). For the Christian, we are called to enjoy the good things that God provides as we enjoy them in God s fear (1 Tim 4:1-5).