Ecclesiastes 1

 

What is wisdom?

Transliterated: chokmah

Definition: skill in war, wisdom in administration, wisdom in religious affairs, and wisdom in ethical and religious matters

 

The wise person in OT times is highly practical, not merely theoretical

Wisdom in the OT is not:

-          a high IQ

-          being clever and quick

-          skill in expression

-          age

Definition of OT “wisdom”: “Wisdom is the ability to make godly choices in life”

 

What are the wisdom books of Bible? Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

Types of Wisdom:

-          Proverbial Wisdom

-          Speculative Wisdom (Job, Ecclesiastes)

-          Lyrical Wisdom (Song of Solomon)

 

 

Ecclesiastes

Who was it written by? Solomon

When was it written? During the time when Solomon fell away from God (1 Kings 11:1-13)

 

What is the main point of Ecclesiastes?

Transliterated: hebel

Definition: vapor, breath, vanity

Translations: vanity (KJV, NRSV), meaningless (NIV), futility (NJB)

-          used 37 times in Ecclesiastes (73 in OT)

 

Great debate:

  1. Ecclesiastes is an expression of cynical wisdom, which serves as a kind of “foil” regarding an outlook on life that should be avoided.
  2. Ecclesiastes is an expression of how one should enjoy life under God in a world in which all die in the end.

Observations

Make an outline for your observations of Ecclesiastes 1

 

Ecclesiastes 1 – Everything is meaningless

vv. 1-2

(Psa. 39:5-6)

The central argument “hebel”

vv. 3-11 Examples

vv. 12-15

Solomon studied everything there is to study.

Conclusion: It’s all hebel

Why? (v.15)

  1. The twisted nature of man cannot be resolved
  2. The more we learn the more we see our ignorance

vv. 16-18

Solomon tried living a life of wisdom ad folly.

Conclusion: It’s all hebel

Why? (v.18)

  1. Seeing our former mistakes brings us grief
  2. The more we know the more we realize the problems in this world

vv. 3-8

Cyclic nature of everything

v. 3 Never-ending work to be done

v. 4 Generations come and go

v. 5 Sun rises and sets

v. 6 Air currents

v. 7 Water cycle

v. 8 We can never see/hear enough

vv. 9-11

The nature of man has not changed over the years

v. 9-10 there is nothing new under the sun

v. 11 People are eventually forgotten

 

 

 

Argument and Purpose

Find the argument and purpose(s) of Ecclesiastes 1

 

Argument: Everything is meaningless

 

Purpose:

  1. Pursuing earthly matters only gets us into a rut.
  2. Storing up treasures on earth will only result in eventual loss.
  3. Knowing everything in the world will only helps us realize how ignorant we are.
  4. The more we know the more we will become sorrowful.

Ecclesiastes 1

 

 

 

 

Argument:

 

 

 

 

 

Purposes: