Keith Essex
Ecclesiastes

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 26: Introduction and Themes of Ecclesiastes; and
• Lecture 27: Interpretive Problems of Ecclesiastes.

12. Ecclesiastes [MSB, 909-11; ESVSB, 1193-6; HSB, 1083-7; DOTWPW, 121-32]
    1. Introduction
       1. Title
          1. Hebrew: "Qohelet" – to convene an assembly, a preacher
          2. LXX: "Ecclesiastes"
       2. Date: 970-931 BC
       3. Canonical Connection: between Song of Songs and Lamentations [MT] or between Lamentations and Esther
    2. B. Major Themes [see NIDOTTE, 4:552-5]
       1. "Vanity" (38x - Ecc 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26; 3:19; 4:4, 7, 8, 16; 5:7, 10; 6:2, 4, 9, 11, 12; 7:6, 15; 8:10, 14; 9:9; 11:8, 10; 12:8
          1. "Striving after wind' (Ecc 1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 16; 6:9)
          2. "No advantage" (Ecc 3:19; cf. Ecc 1:3; 5:11; 6:8, 11)
          3. "No profit" (Ecc 2:11; 3:9; 5:16)
       2. "Under the Sun" (29x – Ecc 1:3, 9, 14; 2:11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22; 3:16; 4:1, 3, 7, 15; 5:13, 18; 6:1, 12; 8:9, 15, 17; 9:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 10:5)
       3. Death (Ecc 2:14, 16, 18; 3:2, 19-20; 4:2; 5:15; 6:6, 12; 7:1; 8:8; 9:2-5, 10; 11:7-8; 12:7)
       4. Labor, Toil, Work (34x – Ecc 1:3; 2:17, 19, 21, 23, 26; 3:9; 4:7-8; 8:16)
       5. Fear God (Ecc 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12-13; 12:13)
       6. Enjoy Life (Ecc 2:24-26; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-9; 11:8-9)
       7. Heart (Ecc 1:13, 16, 17; 2:1, 3, 10, 15, 20, 22, 23; 3:11, 17, 18; 5:2, 20; 7:2, 3, 4, 7, 21, 22, 25, 26; 8:5, 9, 11, 16; 9:1, 3, 7; 10:2, 3; 11:9, 10)
       8. Sons of Man (Men) (Ecc 1:13; 2:3, 8; 3:10, 18, 19, 21; 8:11; 9:3, 12);
          Man, Men (Ecc 1:3, 13; 2:3, 8, 12, 18, 21, 22, 24, 26; 3:10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 21, 22; 5:19; 6:1, 7, 10, 12; 7:2, 14, 20, 28, 29; 8:1, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17; 9:1, 3, 12, 15; 10:14; 11:8; 12:5, 13)
    3. Purpose: In spite of the seeming futility involved in man's existence, the wise man should fear God and enjoy life as the gift from God.
    4. The Literary Structure

       Ecclesiastes

       A

       Title: author mentioned in the third person (Ecc 1:1)

       B

       Poem about the brevity and seeming insignificance of life (Ecc 1:2-11)

       C

       Wisdom's failure to discover life's meaning (Ecc 1:12 - Ecc 2:26)

       D

       Poem about time (Ecc 3:1-15)

       E

       Problem: the world is full of injustice (Ecc 3:16-22)

       F

       Problem: the world is full of suffering and deprivation (Ecc 4:1-6)

       G

       Problem: the world is full of dissatisfied people seeking wealth (Ecc 4:7-16)

       H

       CENTER: Fear God (Ecc 5:1-7)

       G'

       Problem: the world is full of dissatisfied people seeking wealth (Ecc 5:8-17)

       F'

       Problem: the world is full of misfortune and deprivation (Ecc 5:13-20)

       E'

       Problem: the world is full of injustice and unfairness (Ecc 6:1-12)

       D'

       Poem about time (Ecc 7:1-14)

       C'

       Wisdom's guidance, despite its shortcomings (Ecc 7:15 - Ecc 11:6)

       B'

       Wisdom concerning the brevity of life: practical advice about living life (Ecc 11:7 - Ecc 12:8)

       A'

       Conclusion: author mentioned in the third person (Ecc 12:9-14)
    5. Bibliography
       1. Exegetical:
          • Longman, The Book of Ecclesiastes (NICOT).
       2. English Interpretation:
          • Eaton, Ecclesiastes (TOTC).
          • Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC).
          • Kaiser, Ecclesiastes (EvBC).
       3. Expositional:
          • Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes (BST).
          • Provan, Ecclesiastes / Song of Songs (NIVAC).
    6. Selected Interpretive Issues [DOTWPW, 140-9]
       1. Authorship [MSB, 909; HSB, 1084; see DOTWPW, 733-7]
          1. Solomon [Garrett; Kaiser; BKC]
          2. An Editor of Solomon [Eaton]
          3. An Anonymous Wise Man [Kidner; EBC]
          4. Two Wise Men [Longman; Provan]
          5. Three Wise Men
       2. Purpose [MSB, 910; HSB, 1084-5]
          1. Negative: The Futility of Human Wisdom [Eaton]
          2. Positive: A Revelation of Godly Wisdom [Garrett; Kaiser; Provan]
          3. Negative and Positive: A Revelation of Godly Wisdom in Response to the Futility of Human Wisdom [Longman; Kidner; BKC]
    7. Preaching Ecclesiastes [see BibSac 160:638 (April, 2003) 159-73 & 160:639 (July, 2003) 283-304]

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.