Ecclesiastes

Title

The names Ecclesiastes is derived from the Greek word ekklesia and means "one who addresses and assembly". The Greek in turn is a transition of the Hebrew Qoheleth which could be translated "preacher" or "teacher".

Authorship

The opening statement in the book is "the words of the preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem" and thus Solomon is thought to be this man and therefore the author.

Date

It is likely that Solomon wrote the book in his old age (940-930 B.C.)

Content Overview

While the book of Proverbs presents an optimistic confidence in life when wise choices are made, Ecclesiastes recognizes that this is frequently not the case. It does not really contradict proverbs, but supplements it when an equally important but different perspective.

Ecclesiastes indicates that a particular time in Solomon's life he set out to find true meaning and to discover the good life. Richly endowed with wisdom and wealth he thought that he could find lasting fulfillment without the help of God. He would search "under the sun" for greatness, goodness and meaning.

Unfortunately, as the book also indicates, this search ended with a negative conclusion. He determined after all of this that life "under the sun" is only "vanity and grasping for the wind". It was futile, discouraging and not worth the effort.

Solomon's search for fulfillment seems to coincide with the later half of his old age.

The fortunate conclusion is that he realized his wrong path and in Chapter 12:13,14 he gives us the final thesis of the matter. He exhorts his hearers to "fear God and keep His commandment because this is the whole duty of man".

Outline

1. All is Vanity - The Thesis (1:1-11)

2. All is Vanity - The Proof (1:12-6:12)

3. Counsel for living with Vanity (7:1-12:14)

4. The conclusion: Fear God and keep His Commandments (12:9-14)

Purpose

To show that there is nothing under the sun that is a capable meaning to life because all in the world is meaningless.

To show that the pleasures of life are not intrinsically fulfilling, but are enjoyable when God is positioned at the center of life.

Return to Old Testament from Ecclesiastes