Ecclesiastes: A Quest for Meaning?

by John D. Currid

The latest addition to the Welwyn Commentary series has leading Old Testament scholar and series editor John D Currid bring a fresh approach to a book that seems to draw a lot of comment of the the wrong kind. In his Introduction he says: There is no book in the Old Testament that is as maligned and criticized as the book of Ecclesiastes. People point to the teachings of vanity, scepticism, and fatalism that they see so dominant in the writing. Why live, one asks, if the writer of Ecclesiastes is right that life is without meaning and purpose? . . . I would argue that the real reason that no book in the Old Testament is as disparaged as Ecclesiastes is simply because no book is so misunderstood. It is ironic, in my opinion, that no book in the Old Testament is, in reality, as joyful as Ecclesiastes. When the reader properly understands the argument in the book, he will be led to joy and he will be filled with adoration for God. Consequently, that which is criticized for having no joy is really the book that brings joy.

160 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2015

About the author

Dr. Currid has been part of the RTS Faculty for 20 years, serving as both Chair of the Biblical Studies Division in Jackson and Professor of Old Testament in Charlotte. Prior to coming to RTS, he served as Associate Professor of Religion at Grove City College. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Currid serves as Project Director of the Bethsaida Excavations Project in Israel (1995-present). He lectures and preaches in many countries including Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Australia, and Brazil.

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, short, conservative commentary on Ecclesiastes. This one is more sermonic than most commentaries, but very helpful theologically.

[Peter Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply stunning and thrilling commentary!

[Cameron Barham]

“At the heart of (Ecclesiastes) is the problem of mankind’s attempt to find meaning in creation without knowing the Creator. Nothing in life, no matter what it is, can give meaning, purpose, and joy apart from the knowledge of God. This is the proper meaning of the well-known phrase, ‘vanity of vanities! All is vanity’ (1:2b).”, p. 6

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neither waste of time nor especially enlightening. Simplistic connections to Christ.

Seow in Anchor series and Provan in NIVAC are most helpful.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine. A short book that is more devotional than pastoral. I think there are better short books on Ecclesiastes.

[Scott Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of Ecclesiastes.