Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 65:3 (Sep 2022)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

JETS 65:3 (September 2022) p. 553

Book Reviews

Ecclesiastes. By John Goldingay. The Bible in God’s World Commentary Series. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2021, xvi + 321 pp., $55.00.

Esteemed scholar John Goldingay shares his expertise on Ecclesiastes for the inaugural volume of a new commentary series, The Bible in God’s World. The aim of the series is to provide exceptional biblical scholarship that examines “text-critical, linguistic, grammatical, contextual, and theological issues,” yet also contextualizes Scripture for modern readers (p. ii). Contributors give special attention to the message of liberation, justice, and compassion that characterizes God’s kingdom. Accordingly, authors in the series have been chosen from a variety of cultural and confessional backgrounds. Although all contributing scholars are Protestant, series editors seek to foster a robust, balanced, and faithful interpretation that is relevant for the diversity of God’s people.

Goldingay’s volume on Ecclesiastes models the structure to which each commentary in the series will adhere. The book begins with introductory essentials such as historical context, cultural background, literary qualities, and theological issues. The body of the commentary is broken into sections, each of which consists of an annotated translation, overview, and verse-by-verse commentary.

Although the series does not prioritize canonical significance or connections between the OT and NT, Goldingay examines Ecclesiastes through a scripturally comprehensive lens. Without unnecessarily reading the work of Christ into the text, Goldingay skillfully situates Ecclesiastes within the narrative of Scripture. For example, in the commentary on 1:4–11, he points out that Qohelet fails to offer a definitive solution to the endless cycle of futility, as “nothing new under the sun” arises for individual humans or for the created world. However, Goldingay reminds readers that when Christ steps into history, the Savior halts the cycle of futility and makes “all things new.”

In regard to setting, Goldingay adheres to the scholarly consensus that Ecclesiastes should be dated to the second or third century BCE. Accordingly, he argues against Solomonic authorship, favoring the view that the author of Ecclesiastes takes the guise of Solomon for rhetorical purposes. Goldingay regards the Solomon/Qohelet figure as an alter ego created to express “ideas the author wants people to think about rather than things the author necessarily affirms” (p. 34).

In his translation of Ecclesiastes, Goldingay makes some atypical choices. He eschews the more traditional translation of Qohelet as “Teacher” or “Preacher.” The scholar, instead, prefers �...