Download or read book Interpreting Ecclesiastes Readers Old and New written by Katherine J. Dell and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 2013-09-08 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Readers of texts come from all generations, from different contexts and with different agendas. This book gives a sample of what both ancient and contemporary readers have brought to the book of Ecclesiastes in the quest for illumination of the text and for their own enlightenment, often furnishing their own agenda. Debates over meaning are formed, shaped, and illuminated by the interpreters themselves. Part One looks at ancient interpreters and at their methods of approaching the text. Jewish and Christian interpreters alike sought to find meaning amongst some of the key puzzles of the book—why does the author call himself “the son of David” and appear to be Solomon when his pen name also seems to be Qoheleth? Why the contradictions in content? How did such an unorthodox book come to be canonized? How did the dualistic contemptus mundi interpretation of the vanity theme perpetuated by Jerome and others come to hold the field for so long? And how did Luther and the reformers seek to rectify that approach? These questions and others are addressed in this book, looking through the lens of past interpretation. Part Two acknowledges our increasing self-awareness of the importance of method in approaching biblical texts and turns to a sample of modern interpretations from familiar reading groups such as the ecologist, the animal theologian, the liberationist, the post-colonialist, and the feminist. It will be seen that different modern approaches often enlighten the interpretation of specific verses within Ecclesiastes and hence that no one method is a wholesale “solution” to interpretive concerns.
Download or read book Catching the Wind A Guide for Interpreting Ecclesiastes written by Dale McIntire and published by Covenant Books, Inc.. This book was released on 2020-07-28 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Depressing." "Ungodly." "Skippable." Each of these words have been used to describe Ecclesiastes. Catching the Wind: A Guide for Interpreting Ecclesiastes provides an interpretive companion for pastors, Bible study teachers and leaders, and Bible readers who are tired of skipping Ecclesiastes because either it is too hard to understand or its content appears too contrary to fit into preconceived notions of what and how God reveals Himself in His Word. The message of Ecclesiastes, often lost to readers and interpreters in the puzzling, enigmatic details of the book, becomes readily accessible when Ecclesiastes is considered in the whole. Catching the Wind utilizes the structure of a modern social research report to reveal the divine intent of Ecclesiastes, the divine truth that true meaning in human life comes in covenant relationship with the sovereign God and through no other means. The guide provides instruction for developing a biblical hermeneutic, an interpretation of the text of Ecclesiastes, examples of personal application, and abundant study questions for further investigation.
Download or read book Reading Ecclesiastes Intertextually written by Katharine J. Dell and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-02-26 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume continues the study of intertextuality in the 'Wisdom Literature' initiated in Reading Job Intertextually (Dell and Kynes, T&T Clark, 2012). Like that book, Reading Ecclesiastes Intertextually provides the first comprehensive treatment of intertextuality in this wisdom text. Articles address intertextual resonances between Ecclesiastes and texts across the Hebrew canon, along with texts throughout history, from Greek classical literature to the New Testament, Jewish and Christian interpretation, and existential and Modern philosophy. As a multi-authored volume that gathers together scholars with expertise on this diverse array of texts, this collection provides exegetical insight that exceeds any similar attempt by a single author. The contributors have been encouraged to pursue the intertextual approach that best suits their topic, thereby offering readers a valuable collection of intertextual case studies addressing a single text.
Download or read book Kohelet s Pursuit of Truth written by Benjamin J. Segal and published by Gefen Books. This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Benjamin Segal's translation and literary commentary is arrestingly new. Its most striking innovations include the tracing of change within the book, an exploration of the character of the main speaker, an appreciation of the literary structure, and a sensitivity to the varied voices of the main speaker in this retrospective narrative." -- Back cover
Download or read book Ecclesiastes Or The Preacher written by and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Ecclesiastes and the Riddle of Authorship written by Thomas M. Bolin and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-03-27 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Ecclesiastes, the authorial voice of Qohelet presents an identity that has challenged readers for centuries. This book offers a reception history of the different ways readers have constructed Qohelet as an author. Previous reception histories of Ecclesiastes group readings into "premodern" and "critical," or separate Jewish from Christian readings. In deliberate contrast, this analysis arranges readings thematically according to the interpretive potential inherent in the text, a method of biblical reception history articulated by Brennan Breed. Doing so erases the artificial distinctions between so-called scholarly and confessional readings and highlights the fact that many modern academic readings of the authorship of Ecclesiastes travel in well-worn interpretive paths that long predate the rise of critical scholarship. Thus this book offers a reminder that, while critical biblical scholarship is an essential part of the interpretive task, academic readings are themselves indebted to the Bible’s reception history and a part of it.
Download or read book Ecclesiastes 1 5 written by Stuart Weeks and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-03-19 with total page 736 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new volume in the ICC on Ecclesiastes 1-5 brings together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary and theological - to enable the scholar to have a complete knowledge and understanding of this Old Testament book. Stuart Weeks incorporates new evidence available in the field, surveys the wealth of secondary literature and provides an extensive introduction to Ecclesiastes as a whole.
Download or read book Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries Ecclesiastes written by Julie Ann Duncan and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2017-04-18 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries provide compact, critical commentaries on the books of the Old Testament for the use of theological students and pastors. The commentaries are also useful for upper-level college or university students and for those responsible for teaching in congregational settings. In addition to providing basic information and insights into the Old Testament writings, these commentaries exemplify the tasks and procedures of careful interpretation, to assist students of the Old Testament in coming to an informed and critical engagement with the biblical texts themselves. The present volume gives an up-to-date, readable commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes. The commentary covers critical issues section by section while emphasizing the larger theological and literary issues in Ecclesiastes and illustrating its relevance for modern readers. "The unique book of Ecclesiastes requires a unique kind of commentary, one that probes its ancient wisdom with critical deference, appreciates its frustrating ambiguity, and extends its insights in ways that are profoundly relevant for contemporary readers. Julie Duncan’s treatment succeeds in every respect. Elegantly written, her commentary explores the book’s ancient Near Eastern context in fresh ways and engages Qohelet’s wisdom with some of the most pressing questions of our day, demonstrating that there may be “nothing new under the sun” after all. Highly recommended for both student and scholar." - William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary "While the literary and historical context and the exegetical analysis are first-rate, the theological/existential reflections are simply superb." - Gerald Janzen, MacAllister-Petticrew emeritus Professor of Old Testament, Christian Theological Seminary "The beauty of Ecclesiastes is a subtle and mysterious one, simultaneously profound and poetic, reticent and reluctant to yield everything too quickly or easily; it repays only the most ardent admirers. We are particularly fortunate, then, to have this commentary from Julie Duncan, whose insights into the book are equally compelling, insightful, and beautifully poetic. This is theological-existential commentary at its best, a true interpretation of (not simply observations about) the text, an elegant treatment where one encounters Qoheleth in conversation with everything from Gilgamesh and Ahiqar to Shakespeare, Camus, Tolstoy, and T. S. Eliot to William James, Woody Allen, and Etty Hillesum. This is a beautiful commentary--one to be savored." - Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University "Julie Duncan has gifted us with a beautifully written, truly empathetic reading of Ecclesiastes. Her artful treatment breathes grace and pathos even into Qohelet's most maddening conundrums, making Ecclesiastes more compelling than ever. Duncan's solid scholarship will rightfully stake a place in the landscape of Ecclesiastes commentaries, yet her teacher's voice remains accessible to students. By accenting her careful exegesis with insightful epigraphs and illustrations, she ushers our dialogue with Qohelet out of the past and into our own imaginations. Hurry, everyone! Organize your Ecclesiastes class now, because the perfect text has finally arrived!" - Lisa M. Wolfe, Professor, Endowed Chair of Hebrew Bible, Oklahoma City University “Julie Duncan’s in-depth analysis of Ecclesiastes provides provocative insights into the text’s literary and theological settings, thus averting the misunderstandings that have marred the history of this book’s interpretation. With exquisite taste in words and metaphors, and with references to ancient and modern literature and contemporary life, the author takes the reader into the ancient writer’s search for meaning, making this book a must for those who have always loved Ecclesiastes but aren’t sure why.” —Osvaldo D. Vena, professor of New Testament interpretation, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL
Download or read book Classified Bibliography on Ecclesiastes written by David J. H. Beldman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-08-22 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume is a comprehensive listing of bibliographical references to writings on the book of Ecclesiastes, beginning from 1900. Rather than being presented in alphabetical order, these references are classified according to genre, chapter, subject and theme; among the myriad of classifications are biblical theology, commentaries, death and the afterlife, God/the divine, joy, language, sexuality, structure and wisdom. These classifications have been selected by specialists of Ecclesiastes, in order to guide scholars and researchers through the wealth of secondary material available and to prompt further research on the text. Through its collation of the incredible amount of bibliographical data on the book of Ecclesiastes, this collection will prove a vital resource for those working on Ecclesiastes for years to come.
Download or read book Death and Divine Judgment in Ecclesiastes written by Kumiko Takeuchi and published by Eisenbrauns. This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the book of Ecclesiastes, arguing that it may have served as a provocative voice for, or as a catalyst to, the emergence of apocalyptic eschatology and later sectarian conflicts within Judaism in the mid-Second Temple period.
Download or read book Ecclesiastes written by Russell L. Meek and published by Energion Publications. This book was released on 2013-11-21 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is wrong with the author of Ecclesiastes? Why is there a book in the Bible that tells us that all is vanity? Who is the author? Ecclesiastes: A Participatory Study Guide is the ninth volume in the Participatory Study Series and the first that is a guide to an Old Testament book. There has been much controversy about the correct approach to interpreting Ecclesiastes. Is the author clinically depressed? Should you read the book when you're down in order to find someone who can join you in your misery? Is there anything uplifting in it? There are some who have thought the book doesn't belong in the Bible at all. Russell L. Meek takes a different approach. Through a serious study of the language and of the relationship between the text and that of other Bible writers, he discovers a much more positive message. It is still a book that can help you if you're looking at the troubles and problems of the world. But it is more than a place to find a companion in misery. In its text you can find help from someone who knows the way out, who knows how a person of faith, even if that faith is tried to the breaking point, can find enjoyment and rest in God. Its six lessons are thematic, covering issues such as the date, authorship and literary context of the book, the meaning of the key Hebrew word hebel, traditionally translated "vanity," the theme of death in Ecclesiastes, the way the author makes use of other scriptural text and why this is important to our understanding of the book, injustice, and how we should respond to the troubles of life. It is not just a theoretical study, but always examines how this Bible book can guide us in our lives. This study guide continues the tradition of the Participatory Study Series by helping to model different techniques and approaches for Bible study. The author doesn't just tell you what the text means; he shows you how to discover this and gives you the opportunity to interact with the Bible text for yourself. It's designed for use by small groups, but it is also suitable for individual study. As is the case with each volume in this series, it includes pointers to help with your own Bible study and lists of resources to help guide you.
Download or read book Reading Ecclesiastes written by Mary E. Mills and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-05-15 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reading Ecclesiastes explores the literary style and themes of the Book of Ecclesiastes, investigating its overall theological messages and the cultural perspectives which readers bring to bear on their act of reading. Examining the meaning found in Ecclesiastes through the use of two important contemporary reading methods - narrative criticism and cultural exegesis - Mary E. Mills breaks new ground. Highlighting the range of theological meaning attached to the book of Ecclesiastes as a result of treating the text as a form of narrative and a story told in the first person, this innovative book will appeal to all those interested in narrative criticism, literary studies and interpretation and Wisdom tradition and the ancient world more widely, as well as biblical scholars.
Download or read book Qoheleth Ecclesiastes written by Lisa M. Wolfe and published by Liturgical Press. This book was released on 2020-05-28 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2021 Catholic Media Association Award third place award in academic studies Qoheleth, also called Ecclesiastes, has been bad news for women throughout history. In this commentary Lisa Wolfe offers intriguing new possibilities for feminist interpretation of the book's parts, including Qoheleth's most offensive passages, and as a whole. Throughout her interpretation, Wolfe explores multiple connections between this book and women of all times, from investigating how the verbs in the time poem in 3:1-8 may relate to biblical and contemporary women alike, to noting that if 11:1 indicates ancient beer making it thus reveals the women who made the beer itself. In the end, Wolfe argues that, by struggling with the perplexing text of Qoheleth, we may discover fruitful, against-the-grain reading strategies for our own time.
Download or read book Transforming Vocation written by David Benson and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2021-05-12 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There has been an explosion of publishing in the faith-work movement in the last twenty years. Work is increasingly seen as the new frontier for Christian mission. However, the church and theological colleges have failed to keep up with the interest among, and needs of, workplace Christians. This book is the urgent corrective that is needed, moving past Theology of Work 101 to much deeper encounters with God's word as it relates to daily work. These twelve academic papers look at work through three different lenses: the workplace, the church, and theological education. It is prefaced by Mark Greene from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, reflecting on what work, church, and theological education would look like if there was no sacred-secular divide. In the concluding remarks, the editors imagine a future where each domain is transformed by the gospel, working dynamically together for the life of the world. While academic in terms of depth of thinking, quality of research, and referencing of crucial sources for further exploration, this book is never dry. Rather, it's life-giving and provocative for every vocation, asking fundamental questions of the reader: What is the work that God is calling you to do? How can the gospel transform your work? And how well-positioned are churches and colleges to be at the forefront of transforming vocation? With contributions from: Mark Greene James Pietsch Peter White Peter Docherty Gordon Preece Keith Mitchell David Fagg Ian Hussey Colin Noble Andrew Matthews Sarah Bacaller Samuel Curkpatrick Maggie Kappelhoff
Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Wisdom and the Bible written by Will Kynes and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-01-25 with total page 640 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of leading scholars presents reflections on both wisdom as a general concept throughout history and cultures, as well as the contested nature of the category of Wisdom Literature. The first half of the collection explores wisdom more generally with essays on its relationship to skill, epistemology, virtue, theology, and order. Wisdom is examined in a number of different contexts, such as historically in the Hebrew Bible and its related cultures, in Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as in Patristic and Rabbinic interpretation. Additionally, wisdom is examined in its continuing relevance in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian thought, as well as from feminist, environmental, and other contextual perspectives. The second half of the volume considers "Wisdom Literature" as a category. Scholars address its relation to the Solomonic Collection, its social setting, literary genres, chronological development, and theology. Wisdom Literature's relation to other biblical literature (law, history, prophecy, apocalyptic, and the broad question of "Wisdom influence") is then discussed before separate chapters on the texts commonly associated with the category. Contributors take a variety of approaches to the current debates surrounding the viability and value of Wisdom Literature as a category and its proper relationship to the concept of wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. Though the organization of the volume highlights the independence of wisdom as concept from "Wisdom Literature" as a category, seeking to counter the lack of attention given to this question in the traditional approach, the inclusion of both topics together in the same volume reflects their continued interconnection. As such, this handbook both represents the current state of Wisdom scholarship and sets the stage for future developments.
Download or read book Canon and Biblical Interpretation written by Zondervan, and published by Zondervan Academic. This book was released on 2010-10-05 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on a broad array of contributors, volume seven of the Scripture and Hermeneutics Series assesses the current state of canonical interpretation and uses that as a starting point for exploring ingredients in theological interpretation of the Bible today. Canon and Biblical Interpretation begins with a masterful examination of the canonical approach and the various criticisms that have been leveled against it. Additional chapters look at canonical interpretation in relation to different parts of the Bible, such as the Pentateuch, the Wisdom books, the Psalms, and the Gospels. Articles address such issues as canonical authority and the controversial relationship between canonical interpretation and general hermeneutics. A unique chapter explores the relationship between academic exegesis and lectio divina. Editors: • Craig Bartholomew • Robin Parry • Scott Hahn • Christopher Seitz • Al Wolters
Download or read book Wisdom and Work written by J. Daryl Charles and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2021-06-08 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alluring yet frustrating. Charming yet maddening. Such is our reaction to the literary wonder called Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth), a "wisdom" book that has captured the fascination of readers everywhere for over two millennia with its mix of poetry and personal reflection, its probing of the human experience and its piercing assessment of human activity--especially human labor. Its "All is meaningless!" lament, which frames the document, is well known to all. But its message and the structure of the writer's argument remain disputed, even among professional scholars. Often overlooked, when not ignored, is the relationship between joy or contentment and the fear of God. And almost universally ignored in standard commentary is the role that satisfaction in our work plays in the life of the God-fearer. Against the mainstream of biblical scholarship, Wisdom and Work argues for the presence of a double theme in Ecclesiastes. It argues that, based on the writer's literary-rhetorical strategy, two diametrically opposed outlooks on life are being contrasted in Ecclesiastes, and that meaning and purpose, not "meaninglessness," are by divine design to be the norm - a norm that infuses the daily, the ordinary, and perhaps most significantly, our work.
