Pastor Steve Paulus

Old Testament Poetry and Wisdom Literature

Ecclesiastes

8. Ecclesiastes

8.1. Introductory considerations: Hebrew title is Qohelet (Preacher), from qahal, to convene an assembly. The Greek name is Ecclesiastes, with the same meaning (so Archer, p.483). Purpose and theme (per Archer) "To convince man of the uselessness of any world view which does not rise above the horizon of man himself." Any view of life which places personal happiness or enjoyment of the created order at the pinnacle is false and foolish. The only adequate worldview is one which places God himself at the pinnacle as the highest value of all. He is the only one who can give meaning to life.

(Eccl 1:1 ff., 12:13-14).

8.2. Authorship and Date: The author of Ecclesiastes has traditionally been viewed by Jew and Christian alike as Solomon. While the author does not clearly identify himself as Solomon, he clearly resembles him. He is the wealthy "son of David, king in Jerusalem." 19th century higher criticism and recent 20th century conservative scholarship have thrown doubts on this conclusion. It is suggested that Qohelet is later than Solomon, primarily on linguistic grounds. Archer, a co-editor of the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament makes a very convincing case against this. Style and use of Aramaisms do not resemble any known biblical or non-biblical literature except the Song of Songs. He shows that contact with Phoenecian and Aramaic and even Indian culture and language would have been greatest during the height of the Solomonic empire, thus accounting for the international flavor of Qohelet including Aramaic, Phoenecian, and Persian loanwords. Archer supports the traditional view -- Solomonic authorship. (For another view see Roland Murphy, Ecclesiastes in the bibliography).

8.3. Contents: Chapter one contains the author's initial observation and complaint, "All is vanity." First eleven verses declare the vanity or circular nature of all things. Middle chapters tell of the king's effort to experience and attain great achievements and pleasures. He finds this to be vain, with the exception of the process of enjoying one's work. Chapter 3:1-8 is a classic poetic statement in antithetic parallelism regarding the seasons of life. In later chapters, particularly 11 and 12, he declares the importance of serving God in one's youth. Chapter 12 is a masterful poetic description of the process of aging and death -- the ultimate vanity. The author concludes with the exhortation to fear God and keep His commandments, thus highlighting the theme that life, even success and pleasure, are only meaningful in the context of the fear of God and the reception of His blessing.

8.4. Other Points of Emphasis

8.4.1.Activities under the sun which constitute meaninglessness or “chasing after the

wind” (1:17; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 4:4; 4:16; 5:11; 6:2; 6:9; 8:10).

8.4.2.The value of toil and honest labor (2:24; 3:13; 3:22; 5:12; 5:18ff; 8:15; 9:8)

8.4.3. The ultimate futility of wealth (5:9ff; 5:13ff; 6:2ff).

8.4.3.Injustice (3:16ff; 4:1ff;5:8; 7:15; 8:14; 10:5ff).

8.4.4.Aging (11:8-12:8)

8.4.5.Giving, investment, and industry (11:1-6)

8.4.6.Other themes are addressed briefly with short proverbs or segments (Chapter 7-8:1; , 10:1-20.

8.5. Preaching in Ecclesiastes

What to Ask Yourself Before You Teach the Bible by Jim Elliff

Have I prayed?

Do I consciously and desperately need the Spirit?

Do I believe that my hearers must hear what I have to say?

Am I attempting to live by the truths I am presenting?

Will my demeanor and my words reflect the beauty and significance of the passage?

Do I believe God will change my listeners through what I have to say?

In what practical way do I believe my hearers will be different because of this teaching?

How will this truth effect _____________, ________________, and _______________.

Am I saying what the passage says, or am I using the passage to justify what I want to say?

Will the most mature Christian be challenged and will the least mature Christian understand?

In what ways am I remembering all who will be present (i.e. children, singles, retires, those without Christian spouses, etc.)?

Am I using vivid word pictures and helpful illustrations to make my teaching memorable and clear?

Is there anything I am planning to say that I should not say?

Am I passionate about this truth and will my passion be evident to my listeners?

In what ways will I make Christ known (even from the Old Testament)?

Sources for Section 8:

Gleason Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, Chicago: Moody Press, 1964.

A. Hassel Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books, Chicago: Moody Press, 1979.

R.E. Clements. Wisdom in Theology. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.

James L. Crenshaw, Old Testament Wisdom Literature: An Introduction: Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.

Michael A. Eaton. Ecclesiastes, An Introduction and Commentary in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, D.J. Wiseman, ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1983.

Robert Gordis. Koheleth, the man and his world, a study of Ecclesiastes. New York: Shocken Books, 1951.

Keil and Delitsch. Old Testament Commentaries. Vols. IV. Grand Rapids: Associated Authors and Publishers.

Roland E. Murphy, Ecclesiastes. Dallas: Word Publishers, 1992.

HOME