Bible Question:
What time period was Ecclesiastes written |
Bible Answer: Hi, RevellKim! Here's what I have on Ecclesiastes: The aurhor of this book is puzzled. In his meandering and disorderly quest he repeatedly rejects all solutions based on traditional morality, not without a trace of bitterness. He veers from one extreme to another: at one moment he seems to reject the after-life (3:18), at another to accept it (12:7). Struck by the futility of life, love, work and wealth, he remains dissatisfied, though he still accepts God as creator, ruler and goal of human destiny. This mentality reflects the disillusionment following the Exile, when the old certainties had perished, and the upsurge of faith and devotion in the Maccabean period had not yet occurred. The identity of the author is unknown. He presents himself as Solomon, the father of Wisdom in Israel, but this is a recognised literary fiction. 'Qoheleth' means only 'man of the Assembly', perhaps its speaker or president. At all events, the book is valuable for its uncomfortable and questioning faith, and its inclusion in the Bible is a reassurance for all who share this attitude. [New Jerusalem Bible] As I understand it, it was written by a Jewish sage (Qoheleth or teacher) about three hundred years before Christ was born. God Bless! Angel |