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BIBLE STUDY GUIDE for GEORGE R. KNIGHT 2006 Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 2 Contents Part One: Ecclesiastes Lesson 1 Ecclesiastes: A Bird’s-Eye View . 5 Lesson 2 Exploration of Meaninglessness . 7 Lesson 3 More Exploration of Meaninglessness and a Strange Conclusion . 9 Lesson 4 The Uselessness of Striving . 11 Lesson 5 Some Advice and the Futility of Life . 13 Lesson 6 More Advice and the Uncertainties and Certainties of Life . 16 Lesson 7 Still More Advice . 19 Lesson 8 Meaning Captured at Last . 22 Part Two: Song of Solomon Lesson 9 Song of Solomon: A Bird’s-Eye View . 25 Lesson 10 The Dynamics of Courtship. 27 Lesson 11 Marriage Day at Last . 30 Lesson 12 The Challenges and Joys of Marriage (Part 1) . 32 Lesson 13 The Challenges and Joys of Marriage (Part 2) . 34 Part One Ecclesiastes Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 5 Lesson 1 Ecclesiastes: A Bird’s-Eye View ou are about to begin a study of one of the more challenging books of the Bible. As with other YBible books, one of the best ways to begin is to read Ecclesiastes through in one sitting from a translation such as the Revised Standard Version, the New Revised Standard Version, the King James Version, the New International Version, or the New American Standard Bible. A first reading should take about a half hour. Answering the questions will, of course, take some additional time, but the amount de- pends upon individual goals in the study of this provocative book of the Bible. I. First Impressions of Ecclesiastes A. As you complete each chapter in your initial reading, jot down in three or four sen- tences what you think the author is seeking to teach you in that chapter. Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10: Chapter 11: Chapter 12: Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 6 B.Now that you have read Ecclesiastes, write out your impressions of the book as a whole. II. First Impressions from Exploring Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon Read the “Introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes.” On the basis of your reading: A. Reflect on the characteristics of wisdom literature. B. Discuss the literary characteristics of Ecclesiastes. C. Provide a one or two-sentence statement on the purpose of Ecclesiastes. D. List the six major themes of Ecclesiastes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. E. In one paragraph indicate the relevance of Ecclesiastes for our lives in the twenty-first century. Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 7 Lesson 2 Exploration of Meaninglessness Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:11 Exploring Ecclesiastes . , Sections 1-4 A. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 and section 1 1. Summarize in your own words what you think the author is trying to tell us in these verses. 2. How do these verses set the tone for the rest of the book? 3. After reading section 1, list those items that helped you to better understand Ecclesiastes 1:1-3. B. Read Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 and section 2 1. What is the author trying to tell us in these verses? 2. Which of these verses is the key to understanding the others? Why did you select that one? 3. After reading section 2, discuss the implications of the Preacher’s oft repeated phrase “under the sun.” C. Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 and section 3 1. Summarize the author’s intent in these verses. 2. How do the sentiments of these verses compare with those expressed in Proverbs? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 8 3. According to section 3, why does Solomon’s experience make such a good backdrop for Ecclesiastes? 4 . According to section 3, what are the Preacher’s conclusions regarding the value of human wisdom? D. Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 and section 4 1. What is the Preacher trying to tell us in these verses? 2. Why does Solomon’s experience make such a good backdrop for these verses? 3. List the major ways that section 4 helped you understand Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 9 Lesson 3 More Exploration of Meaninglessness and a Strange Conclusion Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 Exploring Ecclesiastes . , Sections 5-7 A. Read Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 and section 5 1. Rephrase in your own words what you think these verses are seeking to teach us in the overall context of Ecclesiastes. 2. What are the implications of verse 16? 3. In what ways does section 5 help you to better understand Ecclesiastes 2:12-17? B. Read Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 and section 6 1. If you had to choose the key text in this passage, which would it be? Explain why you chose that one? 2. Why is the Preacher so concerned with the heir in this passage? 3. What insights from section 6 helped you understand Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 better? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 10 C. Read Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 and section 7 1. Summarize the teaching of these verses in your own words. 2. From what you have read so far in Ecclesiastes 1 and 2, why are these verses so strange? 3. How does section 7 better help you understand the Preacher’s “alternate conclusion”? 4. In what ways does section 7 help you understand the limits of earthly enjoyment? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 11 Lesson 4 The Uselessness of Striving Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:16 Exploring Ecclesiastes . , Sections 8, 9 A. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 and section 8 1. How do verses 1, 9-11, 14, and 15 help us understand the 14 pairs in verses 2-8? 2. Discuss the possible implications of the teaching of verse 11 that God has placed eternity in the human heart. 3. What are the implications of verses 16-18? 4. Summarize the teaching about death in verses 18-22. 5. What did section 8 add to your understanding of Ecclesiastes 3? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 12 B. Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 and section 9 1. Summarize the implications of verses 1-3. 2. What are the central themes that run throughout Ecclesiastes 4 that hold the various parts of the unit together? 3. What can you learn for your personal life in verses 9-12? 4. What is being described in verses 13-16? What is the meaning? 5. After reading section 9, list the ways it helped you to better understand Ecclesiastes 4. Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 13 Lesson 5 Some Advice and the Futility of Life Ecclesiastes 5:1-6:12 Exploring Ecclesiastes . , Sections 10-12 A. Read Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 and section 10 1. What can be learned about spirituality from Ecclesiastes 5:1-3? 2. Think of a certain type of church member and some of the things that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) and then discuss the meaning of “the sacrifice of fools” (Eccl. 5:2). 3. What can we learn about religious practices and attitudes from Ecclesiastes 5:4-7? 4. What does section 10 tell us about the “advice sections” of Ecclesiastes? 5. In what ways did section 10 enrich your understanding of the religious implications of Ecclesiastes 5:1-7? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 14 B. Read Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 and section 11 1. What are the possible implications of verse 8? 2. What can we learn from verses 10-12? 3. What is the author seeking to tell us in verses 13-17? 4. What are the implications for your personal life of Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 in the context of the entire chapter and in relation to what the Preacher has taught in his first 5 chapters? 5. After reading section 11, discuss the implications of the paradox of wealth. 6. According to section 11, what does Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 teach us about God? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 15 C. Read Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 and section 12 1. What are the implications of verses 1-5? 2. Summarize what you perceive to be the lessons of verses 7-9. 3. What is the Preacher trying to tell us in verses 10-12? 4. What did a reading of section 12 add to your understanding of Ecclesiastes 6:1-12? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 16 Lesson 6 More Advice and the Uncertainties and Certainties of Life Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:12 Exploring Ecclesiastes . , Sections 13-16 A. Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-22 and section 13 1. What are the implications of verse 2 in the general context of verses 1-7? 2. What are the implications of verse 10? How does a reading of the Bible reinforce this teaching? 3. What do you think the Preacher means in verse 16 in its immediate context and in the context of Ecclesiastes as a whole? 4. In what specific ways did section 13 heighten your understanding of Ecclesiastes 7:1-22? B. Read Ecclesiastes 7:23-8:9 and section 14 1. What happens to be the Preacher’s opinion about women in 7:23-29? About men? What is the problem? Bible Study Guide for Exploring Ecclesiastes • 17 2. Why is the wise man’s face beaming in Ecclesiastes 8:1? 3. What are the outward lessons of Ecclesiastes 8:2-9? 4. List the lessons or limitations of human authority found in section 14. 5. What ideas about Ecclesiastes did you find insightful in your reading of section 14? C.
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