Chapter 1

1:4 - Will the earth last forever?

* This Hebrew word "forever" is better translated "concealed the vanishing point."  A better translation is this: "One generation passes away and another generation comes, but the Earth stands and its vanishing point is concealed."  No, the Earth won't last forever.

1:9 - "There is nothing new under the sun." But other verses in the Bible talk about such things as a new heaven and a new earth.

* The book of Ecclesiastes (likely written by Solomon) is a historical account of the writer's quest for satisfaction without having a God-centered life.  In order to understand this book, one must understand that numerous passages from Ecclesiastes should not be turned into doctrines because they are simply the writer's thoughts and discoveries while living outside the influence of God.  In short, there is a lot of carnal thinking in this book.

* The phrase "under the sun" is an indicator of apostasy.  If the writer were indicating he was doing God's will, then a different phrase like "in God's eyes" would be used.  In light of these things, we proceed.

1:18 - Do wisdom and knowledge make a person happy?

* The writer's sorrow was increased as he ignored God and increased in knowledge.  Knowledge alone did not satisfy him.

Chapter 2

2:24 - "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour." Amen to that!

* Don't forget that this is the writer's quest for satisfaction while being ungodly.  Don't forget to read his conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13 and 14.

Chapter 3

3:1-4 - Is dancing a sin?

* The author affirms a time for dancing. This time is when one is praising God.

3:19-21 - Men and animals both die and their spirits don't survive death. "A man hath no pre-eminence above a beast ... All goeth unto one place ... Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Who indeed?

* This is more carnal thinking and reasoning that is inconsistent with scripture.  This book wasn't written and included in the Bible to be a doctrinal book.  It is the historical record of a man's self-centered journey and mistakes and his conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13 and 14.

* See "Special Questions" for more on this.

3:22 - "Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works."

* In the writer's ungodly state of mind, this is true to him.

Chapter 5

5:2 - "God is in heaven." Or is he?

*  God is all-present.  Therefore, He is in Heaven and everywhere else.  See Psalm 139:7-18.

5:7 - Should we fear God?

* Yes, we should fear and respect God.  This is consistent with many other passages of scripture.

* God has not given us the spirit of fear (timidity) toward other humans.  This spirit is from the Devil.  God has given us the spirit of courage and of a sound mind.

* 1 John 4:18 is also referring to fearing humans.  We should only fear God.

Chapter 7

7:15 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

7:20 - According to this verse there are no humans who are good and sinless. Yet several such people were said to exist in the Bible and all Christians are supposedly sinless.

* The writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

7:28 - "But a woman among all those have I not found." The Preacher could find a few good men (maybe one in a thousand or so), but not a single good woman.

* The book of Ecclesiastes is the record of one man's journey away from God.  He explores a variety or worldly pursuits and comes across worldly logic.  The book of Ecclesiastes is not intended to be a doctrinal book.

Chapter 8

8:13 - Do wicked people grow old and prosper? Not according to this verse, but Job 21:7 says they do.

* The author of Ecclesiastes mentions how wicked people live shorter lives (inevitably from their sins and foolishness causing them to die or suffer needlessly until they die early).  This was what he observed and penned.

* In Job 21:7, Job asked God a rhetorical question.  He said, "Why do the wicked live, become old and mighty in power?"  Job had been terribly afflicted by the Devil and he is venting his frustration to God.  Not unlike Ecclesiastes, this book recorded Job's trials and sufferings.  He reported what he experienced and felt; not necessarily every truth of God.

8:14 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

8:15 - There is nothing better for us to do than "to eat, to drink, and to be merry."

* This is another passage that reflects the writer's carnal thinking and disagreement with the scriptures.

Chapter 9

9:5 - Dead people know nothing and receive no reward, contrary to many Bible passages.

* The writer is demonstrating a worldly viewpoint of death that is inconsistent with the scriptures.  Don't forget that this is a journey of sorts and the writer currently isn't trusting God for inspiration, revelation, blessings, etc.

* See "Special Questions" for more on this.

9:7 - "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart." But Proverbs (20:1) says that we should not drink wine.

* Ecclesiastes 9:7 represents a "care-free" viewpoint of drinking wine.  Proverb 20:1 records a biblical (and wise) viewpoint regarding the consumption of wine and hard liquor.

9:10 - "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," because dead people don't work and they know nothing, contrary to many Bible passages.

* The writer is living a worldly life and denying the existence of an afterlife.  Thank God he comes to his senses by the end of this journey!  See his conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13 and 14.

9:11-12 - Human life is subject to indifferent laws and random events -- just like the lives of other animals.

* The ungodly person says that "time and chance" happen to all.  The godly person says that there is order and planning involved with all things.  There is no chance because God is sovereign.  God directs and guides while the Devil tempts and confuses.

Chapter 10

10:19 - Is money the answer to all of life's problems, as this verse implies? Or is it the root of all evil (1 Tim.6:10)?

* To the worldly thinker in Ecclesiastes, money answers everything.  To the man of God, the "love of money" is the root of all evil (not simply money, itself).  See 1 Timothy 6:10.

Chapter 11

11:1 - "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." I don't know what this means, but it sure sounds cool.

* A better translation from the Hebrew is as follows: "Give up your food and water, you'll find it another day."  This is godless speech for: "You can neglect eating and staying hydrated.  Go have fun, now!"

11:9 - Should we follow after our own heart and eyes? This verse says we should, but Num.15:39 says we shouldn't.

* This phrase is very similar to the one that represented the ungodliness of the Israelites.  "Every man did what was right in his own eyes."  This verse is in conflict with a godly lifestyle.

Chapter 12

12:13 - Should we fear God?

* Yes, we should fear and respect God.  This is consistent with many other passages of scripture.

* God has not given us the spirit of fear (timidity) toward other humans.  This spirit is from the Devil.  God has given us the spirit of courage and of a sound mind.

* 1 John 4:18 is also referring to fearing humans.  We should only fear God.