The Bible Study Reading PlanSample

ECCLESIASTES

AUTHOR:

The book of Ecclesiastes has widely been attributed to King Solomon over the years and there is no reason, in my mind, to believe otherwise.

DATE:
Solomon wrote Song of Songs, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, all at different stages in his life. This book was most likely written during the final years of his life and before the division of the kingdom in 931 BC, dating it around 940-931 BC.

AUDIENCE:
Ecclesiastes was written to the wise Israelites of the time.

REASON:

Solomon wrote this book to show that material things fade away and the real meaning of life can only be found in things from above.

THEME:
Everything under the sun is vanity.

KEY VERSE:

"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." (2:11 ESV)

SPLIT:

Introducing the Issue (1:1-11), Looking at the Meaning of Life (1:12-12:8), Importance of Focusing on God (12:9-14)

KEY WORDS/PHRASES:

Vanity, Under the sun, Wealth, Wisdom