What are Ecclesiastes?

Question

Who was the author of Ecclesiastes?
What is this book about?

Answer 1

That book is also called the preacher.

Got to have a preacher of the pink monkey!

Every pink monkey has at least one!

Answer 2

Ecclesiastes means The Preacher. It's about the vanity of life. Solomon is thought to be the author.

Answer 3

Ecclesiastes is the title
Solomon wrote it
the book is about how life is worthless, all pursuits, relationships, and anything of monetary value.
at the end Solomon wrote 12:13 Now, everything has been heard, so I give my final advice; Honor God and obey His commands, because this is all people must do.14 God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil

Answer 4

Ecclesiastes means Preacher.

Traditionally the author or "Preacher" who is also called "the son of David, king of Jerusalem" is considered to be Solomon.

Ecclesiastes is the writings of an old man reflecting upon one's life as he concludes what things are meaningful in life.

Answer 5

Nobody knows who wrote it. Many believe it was King Solomon himself. The author refers to himself as "the Teacher".

It's about wisdom. It's about vanity. And it's a warning to all that we're all going to die!

Answer 6

soloman wrote it

some say he wrote it in his older age... not sure
it is often written as wisdom from a man's point of view

Answer 7

Solomone in his old Age . its about wisdom

Answer 8

Writer: Solomon

Place Written: Jerusalem

Writing Completed: Before 1000 B.C.E.

THE book of Ecclesiastes was written for a lofty purpose. Solomon, as leader of a people dedicated to God, had the responsibility to hold them together in faithfulness to their dedication. He sought to fulfill this responsibility by means of the wise counsel of Ecclesiastes.

In Ecclesiastes 1:1 he refers to himself as "the congregator." The word in the Hebrew language is Qo·he´leth, and in the Hebrew Bible, the book is given that name. The Greek Septuagint gives the title as Ek·kle·si·a·stes´, meaning "a member of an ecclesia (congregation; assembly)," from which is derived the English name Ecclesiastes. However, Qo·he´leth is more aptly translated "The Congregator," and this is also a more fitting designation for Solomon. It conveys Solomon's purpose in writing the book.

He was a congregator of his people, the Israelites, and of their companions, the temporary residents. He congregated all of these to the worship of his God, Jehovah. Previously he had built Gods temple in Jerusalem, and at its dedication he had called together, or congregated, all of them to the worship of God. (1 Ki. 8:1) Now, by means of Ecclesiastes, he sought to congregate his people to worthwhile works and away from the vain, fruitless works of this world.-Eccl. 12:8-10.


CONTENTS OF ECCLESIASTES

The vanity of man's way of life (1:1-3:22). The opening words sound the theme of the book: "'The greatest vanity!' the congregator has said, 'the greatest vanity! Everything is vanity!'" What profit is there in mankind's toil and labor? Generations come and go, the natural cycles repeat on earth, and "there is nothing new under the sun." (1:2, 3, 9) The congregator has set his heart to seek and explore wisdom with regard to the calamitous occupations of the sons of men, but he finds that in wisdom and in folly, in exploits and in hard work, in eating and in drinking, everything is "vanity and a striving after wind." He comes to 'hate life,' a life of calamity and materialistic pursuits.-1:14; 2:11, 17.

For everything there is an appointed time-yes, God has 'made everything pretty in its time.' He wants his creatures to enjoy life on earth. "I have come to know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one's life; and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God." But, alas! For sinful mankind there is the same eventuality as for the beasts: "As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit, so that there is no superiority of the man over the beast, for everything is vanity."-3:1, 11-13, 19.

Wise counsel for those who fear God (4:1-7:29). Solomon congratulates the dead, for they are free of "all the acts of oppression that are being done under the sun." Then he continues to describe vain and calamitous works. He also wisely counsels that "two are better than one" and that "a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn in two." (4:1, 2, 9, 12) He gives fine advice on the congregating of God's people: "Guard your feet whenever you go to the house of the true God; and let there be a drawing near to hear." Do not be hasty in speaking before God; let 'your words prove to be few,' and pay what you vow to God. "Fear the true God himself." When the poor are oppressed, remember that "one that is higher than the high one is watching, and there are those who are high above them." The mere servant, he observes, will have sweet sleep, but the rich man is too worried to sleep. Yet, he has come naked into the world, and for all his hard work, he can carry nothing out of the world.-5:1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 15.

A man may receive riches and glory, but what is the use of living "a thousand years twice over" if he has not seen what is good? It is better to take to heart the serious issues of life and death than to associate with the stupid "in the house of rejoicing"; yes, better to receive the rebuke of the wise one, for as the crackling "sound of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the stupid one." Wisdom is advantageous. "For wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners." Why, then, has the way of mankind become calamitous? "The true God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans."-6:6; 7:4, 6, 12, 29.

The one eventuality to all (8:1-9:12). "Keep the very order of the king," advises the congregator; but he observes that it is because sentence against bad work has not been executed speedily that "the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad." (8:2, 11) He himself commends rejoicing, but there is another calamitous thing! All kinds of men go the same way-to death! The consciousness of the living is that they will die, "but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all . . . All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going."-9:5, 10.

Practical wisdom and man's obligation (9:13-12:14). The congregator speaks of other calamities, such as "foolishness . . . in many high positions." He also sets forth many proverbs of practical wisdom, and he declares that even "youth and the prime of life are vanity"-unless true wisdom is heeded. He states: "Remember, now, your grand Creator in the days of your young manhood." Otherwise, old age will merely return one to the dust of the earth, to the accompaniment of the congregator's words: "The greatest vanity! . . . Everything is vanity." He himself has taught the people knowledge continually, for "the words of the wise ones are like oxgoads," spurring on to right works, but regarding worldly wisdom he warns: "To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh." Then the congregator brings the book to its grand climax, summing up all that he has discussed on vanity and wisdom: "The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man. For the true God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad."-10:6; 11:1, 10; 12:1, 8-14.