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Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
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of The Text This Week
 | Reading the Text:
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| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | "Ill,"
Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit. |
| Chapter I, On
The Veiling of Virgins, Tertullian (c.
205) |
| Chapter
III, On Monogamy, Tertullian
(c. 215) |
| X.10, Commentary
on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247) |
| "A
Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes," by Gregory Thaumaturgus
(3rd century). |
|
Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "He speaks of this
diversity of time for two causes first to declare that there is nothing
in this world perpetual: next to teach us not to be grieved, if we have
not all things at once according to our desires, neither enjoy them so
long as we would wish." |
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| From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
| "To expect unchanging
happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring
ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world." |
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| From Wesley's
Notes.
| "And by virtue of this
appointment of God, all vicissitudes which happen in the world, whether
comforts or calamities, come to pass. Which is here added to prove the
principal proposition, That all things below are vain, and happiness is
not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and
mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the
reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God." |
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| From the Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "Earthly pursuits are
no doubt lawful in their proper time and order (Ec
3:1-8), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for
instance, when pursued as the solid and chief good (Ec
3:9, 10); whereas God makes everything beautiful in its season,
which man obscurely comprehends (Ec
3:11)." |
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| Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
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"Terrorist Enemies and Just War," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Peace and War," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2004. |
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"Following Our Vocation in Organizations," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Vocation," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2004. |
|
"There
is a Time: Reflections for Christian Leaders," Thomas F.
Fischer, Ministry Health.
| "New opportunities will arise;
but sometimes we’ll just have to wait patiently for such
opportunities. At other times we’ll lead more aggressively, other
times we’ll need to stand back and watch as God works as only He
can to prepare us, our church, and others for the next phase of
ministry." |
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| Articles & Background:
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"The Zeal of
Phinehas: The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence," John J. Collins,
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003. (This URL links entire journal
in one .pdf file. Slow connections will require long download times.)
| "At a time when the Western world is
supposedly engaged in a war on terrorism, it may be opportune to reflect
on the ways in which the Bible appears to endorse and bless the recourse
to violence, and to ask what the implications may be for the task of
biblical interpretation." |
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| "Mainstreaming
Justice," Susan Dolan-Henderson, Sojourners Online,
July/August 2000.
| "We are all only temporarily-abled.
Illness and disability can strike at any time. The disabled and
chronically ill remind us how much in life is beyond our
control." |
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| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Brisson, E. Carson,
"Between Text & Sermon: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8," Interpretation,
2001. |
| Collins, John J.,
"The Zeal of Phinehas: The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence,"
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003. |
| Gault, Brian P., "A Reexamination of
'Eternity' in Ecclesiastes 3:11," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2008.
Image Browse -
PDF |
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| Reviews: |
| Sermons:
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"A Time to
Heal: The Process of Beginning Again," Sr. Joan Chittister, 30 Good
Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1997.
| "Why do we hold pain to the breast like
a fox under a toga that eats our insides out even as we smile." |
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"Time: The
Great Spiritual Director," Sr. Joan Chittister, 30 Good Minutes,
Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1997.
| "The purpose of time is not
accumulation. The purpose of time is to alert us to ourselves so that we
can become, the book of Ecclesiastes implies, with its affirmation of all
the dimensions of life, the only thing it's really worth our time to be: a
totally human, a deeply spiritual human being." |
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|
"The
Spirituality of Work," Sr. Joan Chittister, 30 Good Minutes,
Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1995.
| "The story of co-creation is the
autobiography of every human life, both yours and mine. Responsibility for
the world starts here, with you, with me. Life is not about traveling
through. Life is about doing something that lasts beyond us, something
that will eventually at least, bring the world one step closer to
completion." |
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"The
Right Time," (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), Paul Tillich. From The New Being
(1955), at Religion OnLine.
| "All is vanity but through this vanity
eternity shines into us, comes near to us, draws us to itself. When eternity calls in
time, then activism vanishes. When eternity calls in time, then pessimism vanishes. When
eternity times us, then time becomes a vessel of eternity. Then we become vessels of that
which is eternal." |
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| That Wonderful Plan for Your Life: Ecclesiastes 3, by Ray C.
Stedman. Text or
Real Audio. |
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| With Children:
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| Drama:
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| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
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"A Time
For..." Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing
permissions at right-hand side of destination page. |
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| Hymns and Music: |
| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index: |
| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance: |
| Study Links and Resources for the Book of Ecclesiastes |
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