Does Ecclesiastes contradict a belief in the end of the world?

Question

In Ecclesiastes, the Preacher states that the world "abideth forever"...Does this contradict the common Christian teachings about the End Times and the End of the World?

Answer 1

Your interpretation is not a proper use of hermeneutics.

Ecc 1:4 -
Vanity is shown in mankind, the elements, and all that moves on earth; the same course is repeated again and again without any permanent result or real progress; and events and people alike are forgotten.

Abideth - The apparent permanence of the earth increases by contrast the transitory condition of its inhabitants.

Ever - The word does not here absolutely signify “eternity”, but a certainly short period (compare Exo_21:6): here it might be paraphrased “as long as this world, this present order of things, lasts.”

In other words, our life and supposed glory (recall Solomon is writing here)

Peter tells us that the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up in the coming Day of the Lord (2Pe_3:10).

If you run across what you think is a biblical contradiction, please study the two sites' content below for a comprehensive list of so-called biblical contradictions.

http://kingdavid8.com/Contradictions/Home.html
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/bible.htm

Answer 2

No , sometimes there are shades of meaning that are not captured in translation. Also in comparison to one human span of life and its seeming vanity, the world and universe do seem to be the only things that are constant and go on forever relative to human generation and corruption, and so I grant a poetic license. That is similar to thinking uncharitably and way too literally of someone who uses the expression , "the sun rose" and aking wether that person thinks the sun goes up and down. All that does is show how small minded and slavishly literalistic the person is who is making the charge.

Answer 3

If you read the book in context, you will realize that this is Solomon speaking by personal experience. This is his perspective. When you read that verse in the context of that chapter, he isn't speaking about an infinite earth, you will find that he is saying that nothing really changes. The sun sets and rises, the wind blows south and north, here and there, and later he says "there is nothing new under the sun" (that man can bring) Life seems absurd to Solomon.

Answer 4

The end of the "world" is the same as in Noah's day, when God removed the wicked world at that time - i.e. he removed the wicked system and people who constituted it. The earth will remain forever, there's nothing wrong with it, its the wicked and ungodly people who ruin it.

Answer 5

Of course. Do you even realize how many contradictions there are in that book? For crying out loud, it's written and edited by so many people that it's impossible to take it seriously.

Answer 6

Which chapter and verse?