Who is Koheleth in the book of Eccl.? Give the verses that mention him.
Author of the book
1:1,2 ,12; 7:27; 12:8, 9, 10 (7 times)
How is the name Koheleth or Qoheleth translated in various versions?
preacher and teacher
Give arguments that the author IS Solomon.
1:1 Son of David, King in Jerusalem
1:12 King over Israel in Jerusalem
1:16 Great wisdom
2:4-10 incredible wealth
Early tradition credited to Solomon
Give arguments that author is NOT Solomon
1:1 Does not call himself Solomon
1:12 was king- was there a time when he was not king?
1:16 before me- how many kings before him
5:8-9; 8:2-8 does not sound like a king
He comes as close as he can to calling himself Solomon without actually calling himse
What is an answer to 1:16 and the fact that he exceeded in wisdom all who were before him?
1 Kings 14:9- jeroboam first king in Israel but he was evil
statement of hyperbole
What is the answer to saying that a king would not have criticized a king?
prophets criticized other prophets
so why couldn't a king criticize other kings
Give passages that show the "pessimism" of Ecclesiastes.
there was no one to comfort the oppressed", There is an evil that i have seen under the sun
"I hated life"
4:1-3
6:1-6
7:1-4
9:2-6
Give passages showing a more "optimistic" tone in the book.
Nothing better than to find enjoyment in toil; be joyful and do good as long as they live
"Take simple pleasures as gifts from him"
2:24-26
3:12-13, 22
5:18-20
9:7-9
What are two suggestions made in class about the purpose of Ecclesiastes?
1. Emptiness of life without God
2. the futility of life in this world even for the believer, Emptiness of life even with God
3. do not expect too much- be thankful for simple pleasures
How is the Hebrew term Hebel translated in Ecclesiastes?
vanity, emptiness
What ideas does the word indicate?
emptiness of all of life's pursuits
futile, transitory, empty
What is the significance in the words in 1:2 and 12:8?
vanity of vanities" repetition stresses the highest vanity
Hebel is used as much in Eccl. as in the rest of the OT combined. How is this word often used in the OT outside Eccl?
shows the emptiness of idols
Reproduce the chart about contrasts between Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
Proverbs
? Answers 2:1-11
?
General
* Principles 22:29
? Wisdom positive- attainable 2:1-11; 8:10-21
? Just Retribution 12:7; 15:25; 22:22-23
? Old Age-positive 16:31; 20:29
-work Prov. 22:29
Ecclesiastes
? Questions 3:21; 7:23-24
?
Exceptions
* 9:11-12;
What is the significance of the word "advantage" in 1:3 and what does it indicate in context?
commercial word, used for material advantage, used only in Ecclesiastes
Name the purposes of the section from Eccl. 1:3-11 which includes the phrase "A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
Life is repetitive
people expend much energy but accomplish nothing
life is unsatisfying and unfulfilling
there is nothing new under the sun
How is the rising of the sun portrayed differently in 1:4-6 compared to Psalm 19:5-6?
1:4-6 monotony of life, same old thing- over and over again
Psalm 19 picture of the wonders of God's creation, glorious
What do we mean by saying life is unsatisfying?
it doesn't fulfill us, we are always wanting more
Is there anything new? Explain
Yes some things are new! But man is basically the same.
God is always the same
Why is the author of the Eccl. a good candidate to test whether or not wisdom can satisfy?
No one had the opportunity to obtain the wisdom that he did. His wisdom exceeded all but he still didn't find satisfaction
What are reasons given in Eccl 1:12-18 why wisdom does not answer every problem?
wisdom cannot meet our deepest needs
1:15 crooked cannot be fixed
1:18 ...
What is meant by "striving after the wind"?
chasing something you cannot catch
What road does the writer travel in 2:1-11 looking for satisfaction?
Pleasure
Why the emphasis on the phrase "for myself" in 2:4-8?
Life lived for pleasure, is inherently selfish
Is the approach of Eccl. that if we live a life simply for pleasure we will go to hell? Explain.
If you live for simply knowledge or pleasure, it will never satisfy! So yes... it will never provide the meaning you are looking for. Not saying going to hell but it will not satisfy
Is wisdom better than folly, according to Eccl.?
Yes, but you will still die (2:13)
What do the wise man and the fool have in common according to Eccl. 2:12-17?
They both die!
What is the author's response in 2:17 to the fact that all will die?
I hated life
What is the problem with leaving our wealth behind in 2:18-23?
it may all be given to one who is a fool
Is fearing God mentioned in Eccl. before the conclusion of the book?
Yes!
what is the purpose of the sections of the book that call on people to eat, drink and enjoy life?
encourage us to accept simple pleasures in life as gifts from God
What is the purpose of the famous poem of Eccl. 3:1-8, which includes phrases like, "a time to give birth and a time to die"?
-Life is filled with contradictory activity
-Leads us to ask "what profit is there for the worker
What does it mean that "He also set eternity in the heart" in 3:11?
desire to see how everything fits together (big picture of the world)
What are some verses in the book that deal with injustice in the world?
wickedness in the place of justice and righteousness
3:16-17
7:15
8:14
What do men and animals share in common according to 3:18-22? Can we prove by this world that man has eternal life?
they both die
No! must come through God's revelation
What is the writer's reaction to seeing the oppression under the sun in 4:1-3 What two groups are better than the living?
he wishes he had never been born
Dead and the one who was never born
What does 4:4 tell us is often the motive for man's work and effort?
Rivalry
Is laziness the answer to the problem of 4:4?
NO
Is the idea of God judging the world limited to the ending of Eccl.?
NO
List practical benefits of companionship in Eccl. 4:7-12
one can lift up the other
keep warm the other
provide defense
Is there folly of leaving what we have behind? Is there folly having no one to leave it too?
-Yes! 2:18-23 may be left to a fool
-Yes! 4:8
What is the overall purpose of 4:13-16, the section that speaks of an old and foolish king and a poor but wise lad?
Popularity is fleeting
What are the lessons in the section in 5:1-7 which begins with "guard your steps as you go to the house of God..?" What does it teach us about God? Ourselves? Our Responsibilities?
1. Fear God!
2. Watch our words!
What are different ways to look at 5:8-9?
.....
King is in advantage to land even thought there is injustice
King covers up for others
What are some limitations to the value of material possessions in 5:10-17?
1. cannot satisfy
2. no advantage to workers
3. cannot sleep
4. hoard them to hurt
5. all be lost
6. can't take anything with him
Do riches and honor guarantee the ability to enjoy these gifts?
NO
Contrast 5:18-20 with 6:1-6
both men have riches and blessings, but one has not been empowered to eat and one has been
Is the view that death is better than life always consistent in the book?
No
sometimes life is described as precious
All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied (6:7). How does this fit with the overall thrust of the book?
we will not find satisfaction in this world
What is the key word of Eccl. 7?
GOOD
Does the day of death being better than the day of birth make the same point of Philippians 1:21?
NO
Why should we not say the former days are better than the present days (7:10)?
all the same
Is God behind both good and bad events?
7:14 YES
Explain the contrast between Proverbs and Ecclesiastes on the attainability of wisdom.
Proverbs- wisdom is attainable
Ecclesiastes- wisdom is elusive
T/F Ecclesiastes states that wisdom cannot be completely grasped and will not make us able to make sense of everything in the world.
True
What do Eccl. 7:16 and 17 mean in context?
don't be overly righteous"
injustice in the world, don't think just because you are righteous you will be spared from suffering
Are all people sinful?
YES
What are we to do if we overhear a servant cursing us according to 7:21?
Overlook it
I find more bitter than death the.... What kind of person did we suggest this is talking about?
The woman!
The immoral woman in Proverbs 1-9
What kind of power did a king have in the ANE?
Absolute power
How should the wise man act in the king's presence?
very cautious because of the king's absolute authority 8:5
Who is to execute judgment against evil in 8:11?
Either God or Government
Does Eccl. 8:12-13 contradict 8:14? What are a couple of ways to interpret this?
*Affirming conventional wisdom
statement of faith that everything will work out
Would Eccl. say life is always fair?
no
What is the event that ll the righteous and wicked, clean and unclean, good and sinner share in common according to 9:1-6?
Death
How do we explain 9:4?
Living dog is better than dead lion
Sometimes he is not consistent and believes life is better than death
How does 9:7-10 show the author is not anti-woman?
Enjoy life with the woman you love.
Anti the WRONG woman
How does 9:10 tell us to approach life?
whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might
Does the best team always win according to Ecclesiastes?
No, skill and ability do not always guarantee success
Ecc 9:11-12
Are the most competent people always in the most appropriate places?
no, best people are not always in right places
9:11-12 and 10:6-7
Name the points that Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 makes about the strength and the fragility of wisdom...
Strength:
delivers a city
better than strength
better than weapons
Fragility:
no one remembers wise
words are unheeded
one person can destroy much good
The day of one's ... is better than the day of one's brith 7:1
death
what is the point of 9:18 and 10:1?
one sinner destroys a lot of good
What is the point of the proverb, "folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land" (10:6-7)?
best people are not always in the best positions
What is the point of the porter in 10:9 which says, "He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them?
all work involves danger
What does 10:16-17 mean?
blessing if king is prepared
king uses his position to help others
What does Eccl. 10 say about the tongue?
10:12-14, 20
words can consume you, be careful, someone else may hear them!
What response should we have to our inability to know God's work?
work more diligently 11:6
What is the problem with following the desires of your eye in some places?
Num 15:39 viewed as bad thing
Eccl. follow eyes as long as you understand you are accountable to God in everything you do
What does vanity mean in 11:10?
fleeting, temporary, only for a moment
Remember also ... ... in the days of your youth (12:1)
Creator
What image is used in 12:2-6 to describe the decline of the body?
Storm and estate/house in decline
When our body returns to the dust, what happens to our spirit according to 12:7?
Goes to God
How does Ecclesiastes differ from Proverbs in its view of old age?
Its view is negative
How does the writer sum up everything at 12:8?
Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity
What does it mean that the words of the wise are nails and goads?
12:1 goads prompt us to action, nails are used to hang things
What does the writer give as the conclusion of the whole matter in 12:13-14?
Fear God and keep his commandments
Explain what is meant by speculative wisdom.
Essays on the meaning of life
how does Jesus answer the frustration of Ecclesiastes or in what ways is Ecclesiastes Messianic?
Yes it is Messianic!
discusses problems/raises longings only Jesus can answer
show the brevity of life/certainty of death, Jesus answers this by the resurrection
laments we are all forgotten, but Jesus answers this
Christ gives us purpose for living