Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 50:1 (NA 1999)
Article: Ecclesiastes And The End Of Wisdom
Author: Martin A. Shields

TynBul 50:1 (1999) p. 117

Ecclesiastes
And The End Of Wisdom

Martin A. Shields

Summary

Many readers of Ecclesiastes have contrived to discover orthodox meaning for the words of Qohelet. An examination of two such readings reveals the shortcomings of both and paves the way for an alternative understanding of the book. Close analysis of the epilogue reveals that, although partially favourable towards Qohelet himself, the epilogist is unequivocally critical of the sages as a group. It appears that the epilogist may thus have employed Qohelet’s words in order to reveal the failure of the sages and warn their prospective students to adhere to the commands of God. The book of Ecclesiastes thus functions as a tract designed to discredit the wisdom movement, using the sage Qohelet’s own words in order to do so.

Introduction

Readers of the Old Testament have long struggled to impose upon Qohelet’s unorthodox and troubling conclusions some degree of palatable orthodoxy.1 Historically the dominant approach has been to propose interpretations which ultimately see in Qohelet’s words the teaching of thoroughly orthodox ideas, albeit through rather unorthodox means. I shall begin this article with an examination of two such interpretations of Ecclesiastes and highlight some significant problems inherent in any approach which attempts to impose orthodoxy on the words of Qohelet.

TynBul 50:1 (1999) p. 118

In direct contrast to these interpretive strategies has been a growing trend to revel in Qohelet’s unorthodox teachings. James Crenshaw has recently given voice to this trend, writing that ‘to regard Qoheleth as a teacher of quietude, simplicity, enjoyment, the limits of vice and virtue, fear of God, and carpe diem is to rob his words of their exceptional power’.2 However, such an understanding of Qohelet itself fails to account for the presence of Ecclesiastes amongst the canonical books of the Old Testament. The bulk of this article is given over to providing an interpretive strategy which fully exploits the troubling nature of Qohelet’s words whilst accounting for their presence within the Old Testament.

I. Ecclesiastes: The VIew From Below

One of the most common approaches to interpreting Ecclesiastes, both historically and amongst some scholars today, establishes a distinction in Qohelet’s thought between his analysis of life ‘under the sun’ or ‘under heaven’—that is, without reference to God—and the life of faith in God. The former is shown to be meaningless, whilst the latter provides meaning and fulfilment in life. In doing this, it is claimed, Qohelet’s aim is to...