(1) Book Information

1.1 Title and Definition
• Title: Ecclesiastes – from the Greek Ekklesiastes, meaning “preacher” or “teacher,” translating the Hebrew Qoheleth, which refers to “one who assembles” or “calls together.”
• Definition: A philosophical and poetic reflection on the meaning of life, human limitations, and the pursuit of wisdom under the sun, offering both sceptical observations and godly instruction.

1.2 Authorship and Context
• Author: Identified as “Qoheleth, son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccl. 1:1), traditionally attributed to Solomon, though modern scholars debate authorship, suggesting an anonymous wisdom teacher.
• When: Likely written between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC, during or after the Persian period, based on linguistic and cultural markers.
• Audience: Israelites seeking wisdom amidst existential uncertainty, social change, or disillusionment with traditional explanations of life’s meaning.
• Purpose: To explore life’s enigmas through a wisdom perspective, challenging superficial answers and directing readers toward the fear of God as the ultimate path to meaning.

1.3 Literary and Thematic Features
• Literary and Rhetorical Features: Philosophical monologue, poetic refrains, autobiographical narrative, rhetorical questions, metaphors, irony, and inclusio.
• Key Themes: Vanity (Heb. hevel, meaning “vapour”), time, mortality, toil, wisdom, joy, divine judgement, human limitation, and reverence for God.
• Themes of Redemption and Christology
○ The cry for eternal meaning anticipates Christ as the eternal Logos and source of abundant life (John 1:1–4; 10:10).
○ The Teacher’s longing for justice, permanence, and purpose finds fulfilment in Christ’s resurrection and divine wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30).
○ The closing exhortation to fear God (Eccl. 12:13) aligns with the call to discipleship and obedience to Christ.
• Symbolism and Imagery
○ “Under the sun” symbolises life from a limited, earthly perspective.
○ The wind, vapour, and cycles of nature represent the elusiveness of meaning and control.
○ Ageing in chapter 12 symbolises the brevity and fragility of life.

1.4 Canonical and Interconnected Significance
• Structure: Introduction (Eccl. 1:1–11), philosophical reflections and case studies (Eccl. 1:12–11:6), and conclusion (Eccl. 11:7–12:14).
• Canonical Significance: Part of the Wisdom Literature, offering a balance to Proverbs and Job by presenting honest existential inquiry within the framework of faith.
• Interconnections
○ Related Books: Complements Proverbs (practical wisdom) and Job (suffering), forming a trifold exploration of human experience.
○ Connections to the Old Testament: Reflects Genesis’ curse of toil (Gen. 3:17–19) and Deuteronomy’s call to fear the LORD and obey His commandments.
○ Connections to the New Testament: Christ answers Qoheleth’s questions with a new creation and eternal life; Paul reflects similar existential tension (Rom. 8:20).
○ Prophetic and Messianic References: Not explicit, but thematically fulfilled in Christ’s revelation of eternal truth and purpose.
○ Connections with Judaism: A core part of Jewish wisdom tradition; read during the festival of Sukkot, reminding hearers of life’s fragility and God’s provision.
○ Connections with Islam: Though not canonical in Islam, the reflections align with Islamic themes of temporal life, divine sovereignty, and the call to fear God.
• Key Passages or Verses: Eccl. 1:2 – “Vanity of vanities… all is vanity.” Eccl. 3:1 – “There is a time for everything.” Eccl. 5:10 – “Whoever loves money never has enough.” Eccl. 12:13 – “Fear God and keep His commandments.”

(2) Characters

2.1 Main Figures and Their Roles
• Role of Authors: The Teacher (Qoheleth) presents a philosophical voice that critiques simplistic theology while remaining rooted in reverence for God.
• Who are the Main Characters: Qoheleth (the Teacher), the implied audience, God as Sovereign Creator and Judge, and humanity at large in its existential condition.

2.2 Roles in Theological Framework
• The Role of God
○ The Father – Sovereign over time, life, and judgement; the ultimate source of wisdom and joy.
○ The Son – Anticipated as the fulfilment of life’s meaning, the Word who brings light into the human search for purpose.
○ The Holy Spirit – Implied in divine wisdom, moral awareness, and ultimate judgement.
• The Role of Priests, Prophets, and Kings: Qoheleth may function as a royal sage; prophetic overtones appear in the call to fear God and anticipate His final judgement.
• Role of the Church: Ecclesiastes reminds the Church to ground its mission in eternal truth, not temporal success, and to embrace God’s gifts with joy and humility.
• Role of Men and Women: Universal human experience is emphasised—regardless of gender or class, all face toil, death, and the need for meaning.

(3) Background

3.1 Geographical, Historical, and Cultural Context
• Geographical Context: Jerusalem as the setting, within the Persian or Hellenistic context; socio-political stability combined with spiritual restlessness.
• Historical Context: Written in a period of peace and prosperity but also philosophical questioning and disillusionment with worldly pursuits.
• Cultural Context: Wisdom traditions flourished, often focusing on mastering life through knowledge; Ecclesiastes critiques their limitations when divorced from divine revelation.

3.2 Broader Context and Practices

1. Broader Context of the Ancient Near East: Echoes themes found in Mesopotamian and Egyptian wisdom literature, such as life’s brevity and human limitation.
2. Influence of Israel’s Neighbours: Greek and Near Eastern philosophies of fate, fortune, and materialism may have influenced the cultural backdrop.
3. Cultural and Ethical Influences: Critiques hedonism, fatalism, and materialism with a call to enjoy life under God’s sovereignty.
4. Cultural Practices
   ○ Philosophical dialogues and moral instruction,
   ○ Communal feasting as a reflection on joy and mortality,
   ○ Honour for sages and scribes in post-exilic teaching circles.

(4) Theological and Historical Significance

1. The Book as a Theological Bridge: Bridges wisdom traditions and eschatological hope, challenging retributive theology with a call to reverent realism.
2. Theological Significance: Declares the limits of human understanding and effort apart from God, reorienting meaning toward divine judgement and obedience.
3. Spiritual Themes: Human mortality, futility of self-reliance, joy as divine gift, time, purpose, and the necessity of fearing God.
4. Key Lessons for Faith and Practice: Earthly pursuits without God lead to emptiness. True joy is found in fearing God and enjoying His gifts. Wisdom must be coupled with humility.
5. The Book in Christian Theology: Foreshadows Christ’s answer to life’s vanity through resurrection and eternal life. Informs Christian discipleship in a transient world.
6. Historical Reception: Embraced in both Jewish and Christian traditions as sobering and honest; used in philosophy, monastic reflection, and existential theology.

(5) Interfaith and Cultural Perspectives

1. Literary Unity with the Torah (or Canon): A counterbalance to the certainties of Torah and Proverbs; completes the wisdom corpus with realism and reverence.
2. The Book in Jewish Tradition: Read annually at Sukkot; underscores human dependence on God and the temporariness of life’s structures.
3. Connections with Islam: Reflects Islamic themes of accountability, divine timing, and the limited value of worldly gain.
4. Influence on Western Civilisation: Profound impact on existential literature, art, psychology, and modern philosophy; quoted in literature and moral discourse.
5. Scientific Perspectives: Offers insights into human psychology, perception of time, and the pursuit of happiness beyond material success.
6. Global Perspective: Universally relevant to all people seeking meaning, stability, and purpose in a complex and often unpredictable world.

(6) Ethical, Practical, and Philosophical Insights

1. Mystical and Esoteric Interpretations: Seen by some mystics as a journey of the soul’s disillusionment with the world, leading to detachment and union with God.
2. Comparative Mythology: Unlike fatalistic or cyclical worldviews, Ecclesiastes affirms divine sovereignty and moral accountability.
3. Ethical and Philosophical Reflections: Tackles the problem of evil, the paradox of knowledge, mortality, and the pursuit of virtue in uncertain times.
4. Ethical Teachings and Practical Applications
   ○ Accept life’s limits with humility,
   ○ Enjoy work, food, and relationships as divine gifts,
   ○ Seek wisdom with a heart anchored in God,
   ○ Prepare for final judgement through reverent obedience.
5. Relevance to Contemporary Issues and Ongoing Relevance: Speaks to consumerism, mental health, burnout, environmental concerns, and spiritual longing in a disenchanted age.

(7) Interpretative and Theological Challenges

1. Interpretative Challenges: Ambiguity in tone, authorial intent, and apparent contradictions between scepticism and faith; the Hebrew term hevel is difficult to translate.
2. Theological Debates: The role of doubt in Scripture, coherence with biblical hope, and the tension between despair and reverence.
3. Key Questions Addressed: What is the purpose of life? Can meaning be found apart from God? How should one live in a world marked by toil and uncertainty? What does it mean to fear God and enjoy life faithfully?