ECCLESIASTES GUIDE QUESTIONS Flashcards
According to the author, what is the chief characteristic of the world as asserted in verses 2-11? What is the author’s evaluation of this circumstance
relative to human existence (vs. 13)?
The world is cyclical and ultimately meaningless, as everything repeats and nothing is truly new. The author sees human existence as burdensome and futile.
See 1:17. Does wisdom and learning aid the human in this circumstance? Why
or why not? Compare this with 2:12-17.
Wisdom and learning do not improve human fate, as they only increase sorrow and frustration (1:18). In 2:12-17, wisdom is better than folly, but both lead to death, making it meaningless.
Why does the author try out all kinds of pleasure? What is he testing, or what
is he looking for? What is the result of his experiment?
The author seeks meaning through pleasure, but finds it unsatisfying. His experiment proves that pleasure is fleeting and does not bring true fulfillment.
Concerning 2:12-18, what is the advantage of wisdom? How is this advantage
called into question? Compare with 1:16-18. How does the author evaluate
these circumstances?
Wisdom offers temporary advantages, but in the end, both the wise and foolish share the same fate—death—making wisdom seem pointless.
See 2:18-26. What are the benefits of toil and labor? What calls these things
into question?
Labor provides benefits but is futile because the fruits of one’s work are left to others who may not appreciate them.
What recourse does the author propose for the emptiness of pleasure, work,
and wisdom (2:24)?
The best response to life’s emptiness is to enjoy simple pleasures like eating, drinking, and working.
What do you make of the ruminations about “God” in 2:25-26? Who is “God”?
Is “God” responsible for the sorry state of things?
God gives wisdom, joy, and wealth to some but denies it to others, raising questions about divine justice.
How does 3:1-9 compare with 1:4-11? What does this theme indicate about the
world and human existence?
Like 1:4-11, 3:1-9 emphasizes life’s cyclical nature, suggesting humans have no real control over time.
See 3:11. What has God given to the human? What has God withheld? What
does the author “know” about God? (cf., 7:24; 8:17)
God has given humans a sense of eternity but withheld the ability to understand His plans.
See 3:13. What does the author advise as a response to the human condition?
What is God’s relation to this advice?
The author advises accepting life’s simple pleasures as God’s gift, since humans cannot change fate.
See 3:16-21. What does the author mean by “I said to myself, ‘God will judge the
just man and the wicked equally; every activity and every purpose has its
proper time.’…’In dealing with men it is God’s purpose to test them and to see
what they truly are….’”
The author believes justice exists, but humans cannot fully understand God’s purpose. There is little difference between humans and animals in the face of death.
What advantage does the human have over the beast? How do the arguments
for and against retributive justice and an afterlife figure in here? What does
this have to do with God? Is God responsible for the way tings are? Is God
“moral” (i.e., trustworthy, just, etc.)? (cf., 3:16; 8:11-14, 17)
The author believes justice exists, but humans cannot fully understand God’s purpose. There is little difference between humans and animals in the face of death.
See 3:22b. If God is the only one who can bring fulfillment and completion to
the human life, why doesn’t God do it? Compare 3:11, 22; 6:12; 7:24; 8:17; 9:1-
2.
If only God can fulfill life, then human limitations suggest He withholds this fulfillment, leaving people in ignorance.
What is the author’s resolution or advice?
The best approach is to enjoy life while accepting its mysteries.
See 4:1-3. Is the world a “pleasant” place to be? Why or why not? How is work
even called into question? In what way are the dead and unborn better off than
the living?
The world is harsh, full of oppression and suffering. The dead and unborn are better off than those alive, as they do not endure this pain.
See 4:7-12. The author often depicts human existence in the bleakest of terms.
What is the place of companionship in this scheme? Is companionship a
solution to the problems of human existence?
Companionship provides comfort in life’s struggles, but does not solve life’s fundamental problems.
See 5:1-7. What is the status of these remarks about God, worship, and human
speaking? Who or what is “God” in this text? What does the imperative “You
must fear God” mean here? (cf., 12:13-14)
Worship and words should be measured, as God is beyond human understanding. “Fearing God” means acknowledging this gap.
What does 5:8-20 contribute to the author’s argument concerning the meaning
and purpose of life? Why doesn’t work and wealth solve the problem?
Wealth and work do not guarantee fulfillment because humans are never satisfied and lose their gains after death.
What is specifically identified as a “gift” of God? Who receives this gift? Why?
(cf., 2:24ff. 3:13)
Enjoying work and material blessings is a rare “gift” from God, given only to some.
The author suggests that it is better to be born dead (never be born at all), than
to live a long life, acquire many possessions, and remain unable to enjoy these
very possessions. But the ability to enjoy such things, we have seen, is a gift
of God (cf., 2:24f; 3:13; 5:19). How does this observation pertain to the author’s
general claims about human existence, and the status and character of God?
Compare: 2:24f.; 3:13; 5:18-20.
Even wealth and longevity are meaningless if one cannot enjoy them. This highlights life’s unfairness and God’s unpredictable nature.
How does 6:7-12 reveal the author’s recognition of the theoretical limitations of
his own advice? Note Holstein’s distinction between the theoretical and
practical dimensions of the text.
The author acknowledges the limits of his own advice—humans may strive for meaning, but true understanding is beyond reach.
What does 6:12 reveal about the author’s view on truth, certainty, meaning?
The author sees truth, certainty, and meaning as elusive and unknowable.
What are the advantages of wisdom? What is the basic limitation of wisdom
Wisdom has practical benefits but cannot uncover ultimate truths (7:24).
What is the meaning of 7:13? What metaphor is at work here?
7:13 suggests God’s will is unchangeable, like a crooked path that cannot be straightened.
7:14 claims that God is responsible both for good fortune and ill. It is further
claimed that the human cannot understand this (7:15, 24). Once again: Is God
“moral”? If God were “good,” why did God create a world and beings who
haven’t a clue about the ultimate nature of things? And compound the problem
by giving these same beings the ability to ask the question and a desire for the
answer (cf., 3:11; 8:17)?
God creates both fortune and misfortune, but does not explain why, leaving humans with questions they cannot answer.
Chapter 8 continues the theme concerning the theoretical and practical
implications of wisdom. How does 8:14 contribute to the discussion about the
relationship between wisdom and folly?
8:14 shows that wisdom does not always lead to justice, as the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper.
Once again, what does 8:17 imply about the “moral” character of God, the one
who has “given” humans an existence the justice of which our author cannot
fathom? (cf., 3:16-21; 7:24)
8:17 implies that God’s justice is beyond human comprehension, making Him seem indifferent or amoral.
See 9:1-6. According to the author, does God control the world with love or
hatred? What evidence is brought to bear on this question in order to answer
it?
The author cannot determine if God rules with love or hatred, as both the righteous and wicked share the same fate—death.
Does the author establish the meaning of the word “God” in 9:11-12? Does this
accord with the opening theme in 1:2-11 and 3:1-9. Compare: 2:24; 3:11, 14-22;
6:1-4, 11-12; 8:17; 9:1-3.
The meaning of “God” remains undefined, reinforcing life’s unpredictability and lack of clear justice.
What ambiguity of life is shown up in 11:8-9?
Life is uncertain, and while youth should enjoy it, old age and death come inevitably.
What is described in 12:1-7? How does this description fit with the overarching
theme of the text
12:1-7 poetically describes aging and death, reinforcing the theme of life’s fleeting nature.
What final three points are made in verses 11, 12, and 13? How would you
describe this ending? What is its theme? How does it relate to the rest of the
book?
The final verses emphasize fearing God, keeping His commandments, and accepting that all deeds will be judged. This conclusion attempts to give structure to an otherwise uncertain life.
