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Difficult Passages in Ecclesiastes March 7, 2003 Studies in the Scriptures Conference

Difficult Passages in Ecclesiastes March 7, 2003 Studies in the Scriptures Conference Speaker: Allen Dvorak. “…to the glory of God.” -- 1 Corinthians 10:31. Difficult Passages in Ecclesiastes. Take Your Pick!. So…What’s The Difficulty?.

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Difficult Passages in Ecclesiastes March 7, 2003 Studies in the Scriptures Conference

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  1. Difficult Passages in Ecclesiastes March 7, 2003 Studies in the Scriptures Conference Speaker: Allen Dvorak “…to the glory of God.” -- 1 Corinthians 10:31

  2. Difficult Passages in Ecclesiastes Take Your Pick!

  3. So…What’s The Difficulty? If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. -- Ecclesiastes 11:3

  4. The Enigma of Ecclesiastes The major interpretative problem of Ecclesiastes is to understand its apparent internal contradictions and vicissitudes of thought. At times the Preacher seems to be gloomy, pessimistic, a skeleton at the feast; everything comes under his lashing scorn: laughter, drink, possessions, sex, work, wisdom, riches, honour, children, even righteousness. Yet, at other points he urges that we should enjoy life, that there is nothing better than to eat well, enjoy our labour, receive with gladness the riches God gives us but be content if he gives none. (Eaton, 36)

  5. {25} And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” {26} He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” -- Luke 10:25-26

  6. Sources of Difficulties • The often figurative nature of poetic verse • The cryptic nature of some statements • Uncertainties in the translation of Hebrew (e.g., 3:21) • Apparent contradictions with other specific passages or doctrines clearly taught in the Scriptures • Corruption of manuscripts, particularly in the case of numbers (Not an all-inclusive list - asd)

  7. Principles for Interpretation • A passage must be interpreted in light of all other passages which are equally related to the same subject (Psalm 119:151). • A literal meaning should be assigned to language unless there is some clear reason to assume that the language is figurative. • A passage should be interpreted in light of its immediate and greater context.

  8. Authorship Possibilities… • Solomon • Lessons learned by a restored sinner • The journey of an apostate back to God

  9. “In this short story, God provides us a record of all that human wisdom can discover about the meaning and purpose of life. The arguments advanced are Solomon’s, not God’s. We have here an accurate record of what Solomon said and did in his estrangement, given to us by the Holy Spirit…With the above point in mind, the meaning of several difficult passages will be clear. Some of the thoughts of the book reflect shrewd common sense. Others contain glimpses of deep spiritual truth. Still others are only partially true, and some are false.” (Waddey 4)

  10. Authorship Possibilities… • Solomon • Lessons learned by a restored sinner • The journey of an apostate back to God • A post-exilic Jew • Author-editor (Eaton)

  11. “The way is prepared for such comfort by the first part of the book, which beautifully illustrates the second major purpose of the book. By teaching with tremendous emphasis the vanity of all earthly things the author first disillusions his hearers…The best service that can be rendered a man is to divorce him from the things of this world as completely as possible. We call that disillusionment. The author aims to achieve such an end as thoroughly as possible. Men who know the vanity of all things are well prepared for the trials of depressing times.” (Leupold 17)

  12. Do You Recognize Where This Passage is Found?? Whatever men do does not last forever, Mankind and their achievements alike come to an end… Do not let evil sleep afflict your heart; Banish misery and suffering from your side; Misery and suffering produce a dream. Counsels of a Pessimist Babylonian pessimism literature (Cited by Eaton 35)

  13. Acknowledgement of God Just a pessimist?? • 2:24, 26 • 3:10-15, 17 • 5:1-7, 18-20 • 6:1-2 • 7:13-14, 18, 26, 29 • 8:12, 15, 17 • 9:1, 7 • 11:5, 9 • 12:1, 6-7, 13-14 “a divinely inspired bait-and-switch apologetic that carries the reader from the edge of hell to the threshold of heaven.” (Keddie 12)

  14. 3:18-22 4:1-3 6:3-6 7:13-14 7:15-18 7:27-29 9:3-6 11:1-6 Our Difficult Passages (Some truly “sticky wickets”!)

  15. Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 • Point of difficulty – apparent contradiction • Vs. 18 – “in order for them to see that they are but beasts” (NASB) • Vs. 19 – “man has no advantage over animals” (NKJV) • Vs. 21 – “Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?” (NRSV) • No man knows what happens after death…apart from divine revelation!

  16. Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 • Point of difficulty – • Totally pessimistic! • No acknowledgement of final justice • Observations – • The author purposefully paints an incomplete picture. • Suicide sentiments…

  17. Ecclesiastes 6:3-6 • Point of difficulty – • Vs. 3 – “a stillborn child is better than he” • Vs. 6 – “Do not all go to one place?” • Observations – • Greater context?

  18. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 • Point of difficulty – • God appoints the day of adversity?? • Cryptic nature of verse 14b • Observations – • “After him” (vs. 14b) • Future days on earth? • His future after death?

  19. Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 • Point of difficulty – • Vs. 16 – “Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise” • Vs. 17 – “Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish”;is it alright to be a little wicked?! • Cryptic nature of verse 18 • Observations – • Not an exhortation to avoid extremes

  20. “In this context the two things to be maintained are, on the one hand, devotion to God and the teachings of wisdom and, on the other hand, enjoyment of the good things of life. The God-fearer ‘comes forth’ with them in that he maintains both through his life. While the ascetic looks upon every form of indulgence or mirth as sin (against religion) or folly (against wisdom) and the libertine looks upon any restraint as a threat to his pleasure-seeking, the Teacher counsels combining true religion – the fear of God – with true enjoyment of the good things of life.” (Garrett, 324)

  21. Ecclesiastes 7:27-29 • Point of difficulty – • The cryptic nature of the verses • Comments by a misogynist? • Observations – • Wisdom? • Uprightness?

  22. Ecclesiastes 9:3-6 • Point of difficulty – • Vs. 4 – no hope for the dead; “for a living dog is better than a dead lion” • Vs. 5 – “But the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward” • Observations – • The author purposefully paints an incomplete picture. • Note, however, 11:9; 12:5, 7, 14

  23. Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 • Point of difficulty – • Cryptic nature of the verses: • Need to practice benevolence? • Counsel about commercial ventures? • Observations –

  24. Conclusion • The book of Ecclesiastes is an extremely practical book for our age. • The Preacher’s purpose is, at least, nominally evangelistic.

  25. Conclusion The Preacher wishes to deliver us from a rosy-coloured, self-confident godless life, with its inevitable cynicism and bitterness, and from trusting in wisdom, pleasure, wealth, and human justice or integrity. He wishes to drive us to see that God is there, that he is good and generous, and that only such an outlook makes life coherent and fulfilling. (Eaton 48)

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