Ecclesiastes 3
Titles for Pericopes/Passages in Ecclesiastes:
Introduction: Utter Futility |
Futility Illustrated from Nature |
Futility of Secular Accomplishment |
Futility of Secular Wisdom |
Futility of Self-Indulgent Pleasure |
Wisdom is Better than Folly |
Futility of Being a Workaholic |
Painful Days and Restless Nights |
Enjoy Work and its Benefits |
A Time for All Events in Life |
Man is Ignorant of God's Timing |
Enjoy Life in the Present |
The Problem of Injustice and Oppression |
Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared |
Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking |
Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life |
Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor |
The Futile Way Life Works |
Life is Brief and Death is Certain! |
Frivolous Living Versus Wisdom |
Human Wisdom Overturned by Adversity |
Wisdom Can Lengthen One's Life |
Wisdom Acknowledges God's Orchestration of Life |
Exceptions to the Law of Retribution |
Wisdom Needed Because No One is Truly Righteous |
True Righteousness and Wisdom are Virtually Nonexistent |
Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom |
Contradictions to the Law of Retribution |
Enjoy Life In Spite of Its Injustices |
Limitations of Human Wisdom |
Better to Be Poor but Alive than Rich but Dead |
Life is Brief, so Cherish its Joys |
Wisdom Cannot Protect against Seemingly Chance Events |
Most People Are Not Receptive to Wise Counsel |
Wisdom versus Fools, Sin, and Folly |
Wisdom Can Be Nullified By the Caprice of Rulers |
Wisdom is Needed to Avert Dangers in Everyday Life |
Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools |
The Problem with Foolish Rulers |
Ignorance of the Future Demands Diligence in the Present |
Life Should Be Enjoyed Because Death is Inevitable |
Enjoy Life to the Fullest under the Fear of God |
Fear God Now Because Old Age and Death Come Quickly |
Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis |
Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth's Advice is Wise |
Concluding Exhortation: Fear God and Obey His Commands! |