Overview

Pessimist! Hedonist! Skeptic! Fatalist! Scholars have used these and a variety of other pejoratives to describe Qoheleth, the author of the book of Ecclesiastes. But are these monikers fair assessments of this formative book of the Hebrew wisdom tradition? Brian Neil Peterson challenges this dominant scholarly perspective by arguing that Qoheleth’s message is more optimistic than is often proposed. He insists that Qoheleth—a realist who recognizes that the world is broken due to the Fall of Genesis 3—is instructing his readers to live life to the fullest in the fear of God despite the presence of injustice, oppression, and futility experienced on a daily basis. Due to the fleeting nature of life, Qoheleth offers hope to his readers and urges them to put God first and enjoy God’s good gifts, not as a destination in life, but rather as part of one’s earthly journey.

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9781978703995

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Reviews

As the most recent scholar freed from Jerome's errant vanitas translation of Ecclesiastes' thematic word hebel, Brian Neil Peterson offers a sensible interpretation of Ecclesiastes that is internally consistent and comports with Biblical wisdom from Proverbs to Job. Peterson wraps the book's message between the thematic opening and closing pronouncements on the transience of all under the sun. But even more holistically, he takes us logically through the sequence of Ecclesiastes' literary units, revealing Qoheleth's systematic development of his realistic worldview. In this way, Peterson adds a rich layer of scholarship in describing Qoheleth as a balanced realist, using ably the linguistic, thematic and rhetorical analyses that are necessary for understanding this challenging Old Testament book.--Daniel C. Fredericks, Belhaven University Peterson has rescued Qoheleth from its proverbial doldrums of despair by refining the understanding of the key word hebel (KJV, vanity ) and a careful treatment of the book's structure. Metaphorically, he has beaten the hermeneutical swords into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks, resulting in a unified and orthodox voice of hope. While not sweeping the difficulties aside, his combination of impeccable scholarship and clarity of expression makes this volume an easy and obligatory read for those who believe and those who disbelieve that Ecclesiastes belongs to conventional biblical theology.--C. Hassell Bullock, Wheaton College, emeritus This is a balanced, well-informed study of the message of Ecclesiastes. It will be of great value in helping readers understand how recent interpreters have handled the text and in coming to their own conclusions about its historical meaning and abiding significance.--Duane A. Garrett, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Throughout the work P. engages with a wide range of scholarly contributions: indeed, it is difficult to think of any treatments of Qoheleth he has not considered. This variety of views is clearly presented and assessed in this comprehensive study, which will become essential reading for every student of the book.-- Journal for the Study of the Old Testament As the most recent scholar freed from Jerome's errant vanitas translation of Ecclesiastes' thematic word hebel, Brian Neil Peterson offers a sensible interpretation of Ecclesiastes that is internally consistent and comports with Biblical wisdom from Proverbs to Job. Peterson wraps the book's message between the thematic opening and closing pronouncements on the transience of all under the sun. But even more holistically, he takes us logically through the sequence of Ecclesiastes' literary units, revealing Qoheleth's systematic development of his realistic worldview. In this way, Peterson adds a rich layer of scholarship in describing Qoheleth as a balanced realist, using ably the linguistic, thematic and rhetorical analyses that are necessary for understanding this challenging Old Testament book.--Daniel C. Fredericks, Belhaven University Peterson has rescued Qoheleth from its proverbial doldrums of despair by refining the understanding of the key word hebel (KJV, vanity ) and a careful treatment of the book's structure. Metaphorically, he has beaten the hermeneutical swords into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks, resulting in a unified and orthodox voice of hope. While not sweeping the difficulties aside, his combination of impeccable scholarship and clarity of expression makes this volume an easy and obligatory read for those who believe and those who disbelieve that Ecclesiastes belongs to conventional biblical theology.--C. Hassell Bullock, Wheaton College, emeritus This is a balanced, well-informed study of the message of Ecclesiastes. It will be of great value in helping readers understand how recent interpreters have handled the text and in coming to their own conclusions about its historical meaning and abiding significance.--Duane A. Garrett, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Author Information

Brian Neil Peterson is associate professor of the Hebrew Bible at Lee University.

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