Introduction to Ecclesiastes

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Bible Studies

Published June 19, 2023 3:49 AM America/Chicago Harvey Smith AUDIO

Brother Harvey opens the study of Ecclesiastes with a short summary and discussion on the origins, authorship and main emphasis of this wonderful letter from a father to a son. King Solomon, like all fathers, desires for his son to NOT make the same mistakes he has. In this letter Solomon outlines the futilities of coveting wealth, prestige, and other worldly desires since they are all fading glimpses of the real treasures that await the children of the Most High. Solomon identifies the true meaning of life.

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Major Themes, Doctrinal Summary, and Key Individuals in Ecclesiastes

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 1:14

The word Ecclesiastes is from late Latin Ecclēsiatḗs, borrowed from Greek Ekklēsiatḗs, from ekklēsiastḗs “participant in an assembly of citizens”. Septuagint translators as a rendering of Hebrew qōheleth. קקֹהֶלֶת (congregation) This is the root from which we get Ecclesial or church. [1]

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Main Expression:

· “Under the Sun” found 29 times (Eccl. 1..3,9,14;2.11; 3.16; 1.14; 8.17; 8.9; 5.13; 2.17; 2.19; 2.20; 2.22; 4.1; 4.7; 4.15; 6.1; 6.12; 9.6; 9.9; 9.13; 10.5; 8.15; 4.3; 1.13; 2.3; 3.1)

· Similar phrases to Under the Sun = 9 times

· Phrases mean earthly or worldliness = 38 times

Total of phrases to earthly view (worldliness, carnality) = 76

· Vexation

o Vexation (Strong’s 7469H) = 10 times – a feeding upon – grasping after from 7462 – to tend a flock, devour, eat up, make a friend with, companion, consumed with (1:14; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 4:4; 4:6; 6:9)

o Vexation (Strong’s 747H5) from 7462 = 3 times (1:17; 2:22; 4:16) – agitating, distress, troublesome, harassing.

· Vanity

o Vanity (Strong’s 1892H) = 33 times – emptiness, transitory, unsatisfactory.

o “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” (Eccl 1:2)

o Vanity used 3 times plus two times in plural = ultimate emptiness, the empty of empties. No point to anything

· Spirit (Strong’s 7307H) from 7306 = Breath fig. Life

Theme:

Everything a man gains on the earth has no meaning in the end.

A worldly life (without God) makes an utterly pointless life. Serving God is the only point to life.

Date Written: 970-931 BC

Author: King Solomon

• Conventional Dates of Solomon’s reign -970-931 BC

• Mentioned in the Bible and in the Quran as a Prophet

• Believed to have been born around 1010 BC

• Son of King David and Bathsheba

• Last ruler over a united Israel, ruled from Jerusalem

In the KJV there are:

· 12 Chapters

· 222 Verses

· 15,038 Words

Simple Teaching Outline – Ecclesiastes

I. A Divinely-Inspired Existential Crisis (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)

a. The Premise (Ecc. 1:1-3)

b. The Proof (Ecc. 1:4-7)

c. The Problem (Ecc. 1:8-11)

II. Vain Pursuits

a. Worldly Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

i. Desire (Ecc. 1:12-13)

ii. Diagnosis (Ecc. 1:14-15)

iii. Despair (Ecc. 1:16-18)

b. Wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

i. Desire (Ecc. 2:1)

ii. Diagnosis (Ecc. 2:2-10)

iii. Despair (Ecc. 2:11)

c. Walking Wisely (Ecclesiastes 2:12-17)

i. Desire (Ecc. 2:12)

ii. Diagnosis (Ecc. 2:13-16)

iii. Despair (Ecc. 2:17)

d. Work (Ecclesiastes 2:18-26)

i. Desire (Ecc. 2:18-20)

ii. Diagnosis (Ecc. 2:21-23)

iii. Despair (Ecc. 2:24-26)

III. Divine Meaning

a. Meaning Found in Divine Timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15)

i. A Time for Everything (Ecc. 3:1-8)

ii. The Maker of Everything (Ecc. 3:9-11)

iii. The Answer to Everything (Ecc. 3:12-15)

b. Meaning Found in Divine Judgment (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

i. It Gives Us Peace (Ecc. 3:16-17)

ii. It Gives Us Understanding (Ecc. 3:18-21)

iii. It Gives Us Joy (Ecc. 3:22)

IV. Issues with Vanity

a. Vain Problems (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16)

i. Oppression (Ecc. 4:1-3)

ii. Rivalry (Ecc. 4:4-6)

iii. Loneliness (Ecc. 4:7-12)

iv. Popularity (Ecc. 4:13-16)

b. Vain Piety (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

i. Learn Before Sacrificing (Ecc. 5:1)

ii. Think Before Speaking (Ecc. 5:2)

iii. Carelessness Leads to Vanity (Ecc. 5:3)

iv. Plan Before Vowing (Ecc. 5:4-5)

v. Think Before Speaking (Ecc. 5:6)

vi. Carelessness Leads to Vanity (Ecc. 5:7)

c. Vain Prosperity (Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9)

i. The Problem Compared (Ecc. 5:8-12)

ii. The Problem Clarified (Ecc. 5:13-17)

iii. The Problem Corrected (Ecc. 5:18-20)

iv. The Problem Clarified (Ecc. 6:1-6)

v. The Problem Compared (Ecc. 6:7-9)

V. Ordering of Life

a. Meaning Found in Divine Authority (Ecclesiastes 6:10-12)

i. Acknowledge God’s Preeminence (Ecc. 6:10)

ii. Submit to God’s Power (Ecc. 6:11)

iii. Trust in God’s Plan (Ecc. 6:12)

b. A Better Life (Ecclesiastes 7:1-14)

i. Sorrow Is Better (Ecc. 7:1-4)

ii. Rebuke Is Better (Ecc. 7:5-6)

iii. Patience Is Better (Ecc. 7:7-10)

iv. Wisdom Is Better (Ecc. 7:11-12)

v. Knowledge of God is Best (Ecc. 7:13-14)

c. The Limitations of Human Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:15-29)

i. It Cannot Preserve Life (Ecc. 7:15-18)

ii. It Cannot Correct Life (Ecc. 7:19-22)

iii. It Cannot Explain Life (Ecc. 7:23-29)

d. Walk By Faith, Not By Insight (Ecclesiastes 8:1-17)

i. The Question (Ecc. 8:1)

ii. Recognize God’s Authority (Ecc. 8:2-9)

iii. Rely on God’s Justice (Ecc. 8:10-13)

iv. Rejoice in God’s Grace (Ecc. 8:14-15)

v. The Answer (Ecc. 8:16-17)

e. Live While You’re Alive (Ecclesiastes 9:1-10)

i. The Certainty of Death (Ecc. 9:1-3)

ii. The Advantage of Life (Ecc. 9:4-6)

iii. The Life of Joy on the Way to Death (Ecc. 9:7-10)

f. Think Wisely About Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 9:11-18)

i. Wisdom Can Be Overtaken (Ecc. 9:11)

ii. Wisdom Can Be Overridden (Ecc. 9:12)

iii. Wisdom Can Be Overlooked (Ecc. 9:13-18)

g. Think Fully About Folly (Ecclesiastes 10:1-20)

i. Folly Is Disastrous (Ecc. 10:1)

ii. Folly Is Directionless (Ecc. 10:2-4)

iii. Folly is Disordered (Ecc. 10:5-7)

iv. Folly Is Destructive (Ecc. 10:8-11)

v. Folly Is Delusional (Ecc. 10:12-15)

vi. Folly Is Dispersed (Ecc. 10:16-17)

vii. Folly Is Disinterested (Ecc. 10:18-20)

h. Live for the Lord (Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8)

i. Reap (Ecc. 11:1-6)

ii. Rejoice (Ecc. 11:7-10)

iii. Remember (Ecc. 12:1-8)

VI. The Conclusion (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)

a. Direction from the Preacher (Ecc. 12:9-11)

b. Danger for His Son (Ecc. 12:12)

c. Duty for Every Man (Ecc. 12:13-14)

[1] (Merriam-Webster, 2022)