Ecclesiastes

1
Ecclesiastes

• Now we see through a glass darkly (1 Cor 13 KJV)

2
How is the book structured?

• Introduction with motto (11-2)
• Main body
• Observations I saw or I know
• A pessimistic view of human impotence
• Instructions
• A positive view of what is possible and sensible
• Motto with epilogue (128-14)

3
Key Themes hebel

• All this is hebel and a chasing after the wind
  23 x in the observation passages as a stereotyped
  conclusion.
• In the instruction passages it occurs as the
  basis for advice or a question. 57 Much
  dreaming and many words are hebel, therefore
  stand in awe of your God
• Definition breath, mist, vapour, transient,
  ephemeral, profitless

4
Key themes labour/ toil

• Only in the observation passages
• The limitation and unprofitability of work
• Basically, all human endeavour is hebel

5
Key themes wisdom

• The instruction passages affirm its relative
  advantage over folly
• But classic wisdom is viewed critically
• The common element is caution in the face of
  human frailty

6
Who is Qoholet?

• The introduction is explained more fully in the
  epilogue.
• Level of ambiguity an artificial title, a
  personal name or a royal position (qahal)?
• The anonymity creates a critical distance
• A whistleblower/ iconoclast

7
The angle of vision

• Under the sun 13 13x is unique to Ecclesiastes
• It creates an angle of vision
• The world as a closed system
• 52 God is in heaven and you are on earth
• 3x under heaven suggests divine government

8
Considering 12

• Context
• Structure
• Development of thought
• Old age
• Sovereignty/ judgement of God
• The approach of death
• Is there an after-life? v7
• The Epilogue critique or conclusion?

9
Comparing Ecclesiastes with Gen 1-11

• God as creator, sustainer, provider of what is
  good
• Man in the image of God, his spirit returning to
  Him.
• Knowledge, wisdom and the condition of humanity
• Is hebel a judgement on man like Romans 1?

10
Comparing Ecclesiastes with Proverbs

• The epilogue locates Eccl in the mainstream of
  Israelite wisdom
• Yet there is a tension (rather than a conflict).
  Prv is more optimistic
• Creation theology
• The fear of God
• Eccl guards wisdom against unreality

11
Brown (1996) 135

• Inflated and ambitious goals, pretentious claims
  of knowledge, obsessive concerns for getting
  ahead are all exposed for what they are in the
  face of the absurdity of life, mere delusions of
  grandeur. Lifes grand purposes are whittled down
  to simple fleeting pleasures.
• Check Romans 819ff