A Study on the book of Eccelesiastes Chapters 1-2

ECCLESIASTES 1 – 2 

Bible Study Notes Rev. Betsy Perkins

Everything is Meaningless!

• What is wisdom? What does it mean to be wise?

Lady Wisdom  (Proverbs 3:13-20):   

• What are the blessings and benefits of wisdom that are mentioned in this passage?
• What role did wisdom play in creation (vs.19-20)? 
• What are the difference and similarities between wisdom, understanding and knowledge?

Utterly Meaningless  (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11):   

• Who is the “Teacher” (sometimes translated the “Preacher”)?
• What line of this poem especially caught your attention? Why?
• What is your sense of the Teacher and his struggle from reading his opening poem? Does it surprise you that this Teacher expresses such despair?
• The word translated as “meaningless” is the Hebrew word hebel, which literally means “breath.” The word is use as a name in Genesis 4, Abel, the son of Adam who is senselessly murdered by his brother Cain. What are other images or words that might describe this feeling, this “under the sun” kind of thinking? Look up Ecclesiastes 1:2 in a variety of Bible translations (NIV, KJV, Msg, GNT, CEB)

The Teacher  (1:12-18):   

• What more do we learn about the Teacher in this passage? 
• Look over Ecclesiastes 2. What are the headings? Read verses 13-14, and 24-26. What things and activities of life “under the sun” does Solomon find to be pointless?
• Have you ever felt like the Teacher does, caught in “under the sun” thinking? Do you know someone who feels like this?
• Return to Proverbs 3, and read verses 5-8. Where should we look for wisdom? How does this perspective lead to a different outlook on life?
• Read James 1:5. Take a moment to pray…

In light of this passage and our discussion, what one truth about God and about yourself stand out as something to “take to heart” this week?  

Are there steps you will take, by God’s grace, to more fully apply it to your life? 

Resources: NIV Zondervan Study Bible, 2015

Dr. Larry Crabb, 66 Love Letters, 2009

Tim Mackie, The Bible Project, How to Read Ecclesiastes & How to Read Proverbs (RightNowMedia)

Philip Yancey, Session 6 Ecclesiastics: The End of Wisdom, (RightNowMedia)

Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, perfectly pointless. Everything is pointless. (CEB)

Nothing makes sense! Everything is nonsense. I have seen it all— nothing makes sense! (CEV)

It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher. Life is useless, all useless. (GNT)

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. (KJV)

Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.] There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. (Msg)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (NIV)

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” (NLT)