Ecclesiastes Part 01
The Preacher meditated upon what many have asked: “What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” (1:3). In other words, of what value or purpose is human existence?
After spending some time in the Minor Prophets, we will now move to some of the Bible’s Wisdom Literature. First, we will start with Ecclesiastes, and today we will begin with an introduction to the book.
Title
In the Hebrew Bible, the book is called Qoheleth (Koheleth) which means “preacher” or “one who speaks to an assembly.” The translators of the Septuagint called it Ekklesiastes, which also means “preacher,” derived from “ekklesia,” meaning “assembly.”
Authorship
In Ecclesiastes 1:1, 12, and 16, the author identifies himself as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” He also refers to himself as “the preacher” (1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:8, 9, 10). Internal evidence points to Solomon: his wisdom, (1:16; cf. 1 Kings 3:12); his building activities (2:4-6; cf. 1 Kings 7:1-12); his wealth (2:7-9; ct. 2 Chronicles 9:13-28). Some question Solomon’s authorship. They point to verse 1:12: “I ...was king over Israel in Jerusalem,” stressing that the past tense verb indicates that the author was no longer king when he wrote it. But 1:12 could also be translated: “I have been and am king.” Also, the phrase in 1:16 suggests there were many kings before Solomon in Jerusalem. So, some say, since only David was king before Solomon, Solomon cannot be the author. But there were many kings in Jerusalem before David established his throne there, including kings of the Jebusites whom he defeated. Solomon most likely is the author of Ecclesiastes.
Date
Solomon would have written the book later in his life, perhaps around 940 B.C. In 2:1–11 he describes a lifetime of accumulating wealth, and chapters 11 and 12 reflect the thoughts of one who is experiencing the onset of old age.
Audience
Based upon internal evidence, Ecclesiastes was written for young men who might learn from Solomon’s experiences (11:9; 12:1). But like the book of Proverbs, its wisdom is universal, timeless, and well-suited for any person of any age or time. Some scholars speculate that Ecclesiastes may have been written as a tract intended for other nations to learn that God gave Israel the success it enjoyed as a nation (NKJV Study Bible 1009–1010).
Purpose
The Preacher meditated upon what many have asked:
“What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” (1:3).
In other words, of what value or purpose is human existence? Having been blessed with great material resources and wisdom, the Preacher was able to explore all aspects of human life. Here he shares the results of his investigation and of his own counsel. He declares two messages: “All is vanity” (1:2) and “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13). “Vanity,” meaning “futility, uselessness, nothingness,” comes from the Hebrew word hebel, which means "a wisp of vapor, a puff of wind, a mere breath—nothing you could get your hands on; the nearest thing to zero” (Derek Kidner). A key phrase, “under the sun,” used 27 times, suggests that the message of vanity is true when one looks at life only from an earthly perspective. Ultimately, we learn that without a reverent relationship with God, human existence is vanity—nothingness, the nearest thing to zero. To understand the book, we need to read it with the message of 12:13 in mind.
Ecclesiastes Outline
I. Introduction and Prologue (1:1–3)
II. The Preacher’s Search for Meaning in Life (1:4–2:26)
III. The Preacher’s Observations from Life (3:1–6:12)
IV. The Preacher’s Counsel for Life (7:1–12:7)
V. Epilogue and Conclusion (12:8–14)
Wisdom Literature is a course taught at ABC by Dr. Urwiller. Recordings from the 2018–2019 class year are available to listen to on the ABC website.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships, and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
