Why study the Book of Ecclesiastes? The Book of Ecclesiastes explains that life has its only true meaning in God. Faith and trust in God, obedience to God and reliance upon God, rather than upon ourselves is absolutely essential to avoid the futility of a life lived only for self. Ecclesiastes proclaims that God sustains us, saves us and secures us for eternity when we have faith in Him.
In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the title of this book is “Qoheleth” which can be understood as the collector of wisdom, or preacher of sentences. The English name “Ecclesiastes” comes from the English translation of the Greek word “ekklesia” in the Old Greek version, the Septuagint. Many scholars simply refer to the author of Ecclesiastes as “the Preacher,” as a pseudonym for Solomon, the king, the son of David, as stated in the first verse of Ecclesiastes.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon reflects on the futility (vanity) of a life lived without faith, trust and obedience to God. Many who read the Book superficially, have ridiculed it, as only the musings of one who has lived a wasted life and has concluded that all of life is meaningless. But, a deeper study of the Book, reveals that there is indeed a wonderful purpose to life, revealed throughout the pages of the book. Solomon proclaimed teachings of wisdom, concluding that life has meaning and purpose when God is feared and obeyed. Solomon proclaimed his intentions in writing this Book. He “sought to finds words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.” Ecclesiastes 12:10 (ESV).
Outline of Ecclesiastes
Introduction: Vanity of Life: 1:1-18
Proclamations of the Preacher: 2:1-6:12
Promptings of the Preacher: 7:1-11:10
Conclusion: Purpose of Life: 12:1-14
Introduction: Vanity of Life: 1:1-18
The first chapter of Ecclesiastes is a summation of the futility of life. Solomon described life as “vanity of vanities,” verse 2; as “all things are full of weariness,” verse 8; and “he who increases knowledge increases sorrow,” verse 18. Isolated by itself, without the context of the whole Book, this summation describes life as bleak and meaningless. But in the context of the entire Book, this summation sets up the deeper more wonderful message that life in indeed full or purpose and joy when a person has wholehearted faith and devotion to God. The Apostle Paul used a similar strategy in the first three chapters of Romans, concluding that no one is righteous. Paul then explained from chapters 4-12, that righteousness and salvation comes only by faith in Christ.
Proclamation of the Preacher: 2:1-6:12
In Ecclesiastes 2:1 to 6:12, Solomon proclaimed many things about life that he had experienced. In 2:1-11 and 2:18-26, Solomon explained the futility of works and toil done for self-pleasure. In 2:12-17, He explained the futility of self-pleasing wisdom. In 3:1-8, Solomon described the famous words of “a time for everything.” In 3:9-13, he described what is God’s gift to man, that is to take pleasure in the work that God has given. In 3:14, Solomon concluded that all that God does endures forever. Throughout the Book, Solomon described the greatness of God in all that God is and does. For example, in 2:24-26, God is described has giving blessings to those who please Him; in 3:11, God is described as “making everything beautiful in its time” and “putting eternity into man’s heart.” In 3:18, God is described as testing humans. In 5:2, God is described as inhabiting heaven, implying God’s supernatural existence and knowledge.
Solomon explained the wickedness of man’s selfish endeavors in chapter 4. In 5:1-7, Solomon concluded that humans must fear God to escape the vanity of their lives. In 5:8-20 He gives the remarkable revelation of God’s purpose for those who fear Him, that “God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” In chapter 6 Solomon returned to the explanation of the futility of a life lived without considering God.
Promptings of the Preacher: 7:1-11:10
In chapters 7 to 11, Solomon prompted his audience to consider the values of life. In 7:1-13, these considerations are concluded with a look at the works of God. Solomon concluded that no one is righteous, 7:20; which was most likely the OT text that Paul cited in his similar conclusion, stated in Romans 3:10. Solomon in these chapters also described the greatness of God. In 7:13, God’s unchangeable work is stated. In 7:14, God’s sovereign designs for mankind is described. In 7:26, God’s perseverance of faithful believers is explained. In 11:5, the greatness of God’s creative works are described.
Chapter 8, 1-13 is a prompting by Solomon to be obedient to the king because of God’s oath given to the king and a prompt to exercise wisdom in all matters of the heart. In 8:10-13, Solomon prompted his audience to fear God and explained the consequences for not fearing Him. In 8:14-17, Solomon prompted his audience to be joyful in God even though humans cannot comprehend all the works of God. In chapter 9, Solomon described the shortness of a human’s life, and the wisdom of righteous living. In chapter 10, He prompted his audience to understand the difference between wisdom and folly. In the final chapter of this section, Solomon explains the wisdom of faithful sewing of seed, giving to the poor and above all of considering God in every aspect of life.
Conclusion: Purpose of Life: 12:1-14
In the last chapter of Solomon’s Book, he gave the grand conclusion to his consideration of life upon the earth. He concluded that above all else in life, one must remember (give consideration to) God as creator during the days of youth and throughout life one must fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Solomon thus, explained that life has a meaning and a purpose and is worthwhile when one seeks God’s wisdom, reveres God in holy fear and follows God in joyful obedience.
Verses to memorize from Ecclesiastes. (English Standard Version).
3:1-8
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
3:14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”.
12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Resources for studying Ecclesiastes
See the article on how to study the Bible for suggestions on the method of Bible study and recommended resources to obtain. Suggested commentaries and studies are listed below for a more extensive study. Some are available on-line in a pdf format.
One Hour – One Book
Scroll down to video on Ecclesiastes.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrCJNW5eUWQMyVw_2VqW_w
Commentaries
Barrick, William D. Ecclesiastes: The Philippians of the Old Testament. Christian Focus Publications Ltd. 2011.
Constable, Thomas. Notes on Ecclesiastes, latest edition. Online at Plano Bible Chapel.
Eaton, Michael A. Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. InterVarsity Press, 1983.
Finkbeiner, David. Ecclesiastes. The Moody Bible Commentary. Moody Publishers, 2014.
Garrett, Duane A. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. New American Commentary, Broadman Press, 1993.
Glenn, Donald R. Ecclesiastes. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament. Victor Books, 1985.
Kaiser, Walter C. Jr. Ecclesiastes: Total Life. Everyman’s Bible Commentary. Moody Press, 1979.
Kidner, Derek. A Time to Mourn, and a Time to Dance: Ecclesiastes & the Way of the World. The Bible Speaks Today. InterVarsity Press, 1976.
Wright, J. Stafford. Ecclesiastes. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 5. Zondervan Publishing House, 1991.
Studies
Articles from Journals may be downloaded in .pdf format from the Internet.
Caneday, Ardel B. Qoheleth: Enigmatic Pessimist or Godly Sage? Grace Theological Journal 7:1 (Spring 1986):21-56.
Curtis, Edward M. Interpreting the Wisdom Books: An Exegetical Handbook. Kregel Publications, 2017.
Dyer, Charles H., and Eugene H. Merrill. Nelson’s Old Testament Survey. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001.
Hanna, Kenneth G. From Moses to Malachi: Exploring the Old Testament. 2nd ed. CrossBooks, 2014.
Harrison, Roland K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1969.
Ortlund, Eric. The Gospel in The Book Of Ecclesiastes. Journal Evangelical Theological Society. 56/4 (2013) 697–706.
Perrin, Nicholas. Messianism in Ecclesiastes. The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy: Studies and Expositions of the Messiah in the Old Testament, Moody Publishers, 2019. Pages 757-767.
Zuck, Roy B. A Theology of the Wisdom Books and the Song of Songs. A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament. Moody Press, 1991.
Zuck, Roy B. Editor. Reflecting with Solomon: Selected Studies on the Book of Ecclesiastes. Baker Books, 1994.
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Bible 021 Studying the Book of Ecclesiastes