Ecclesiastes 1 Scofield
Read Ecclesiastes 1 · Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 1
1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
“Vanity”
"Vanity," in Ecclesiastes, and usually in Scripture, means, not foolish pride, but the emptiness in final result of all life apart from God. It is to be born, to toil, to suffer, to experience some transitory joy, which is as nothing in view of eternity, to leave it all, and to die. See Rom 8:20–22.
Public domain (1917). Text from the BibleSupport.com e-Sword module.
Introduction to Ecclesiastes
This is the book of man "under the sun," reasoning about life; it is the best man can do, with the knowledge that there is a holy God, and that He will bring every-thing into judgment. The key phrases are "under the sun;" "I perceived"; "I said in my heart." Inspiration sets down accurately what passes, but the conclusions and reasonings are, after all, man's. That those conclusions are just in declaring it "vanity" in view of judgment, to devote life to earthly things, is surely true; but the "conclusion" (Eccl 12:13) is legal, the best that man apart from redemption can do, and does not anticipate the Gospel.
Ecclesiastes is in five parts:
1. Theme, Eccl 1:1–3.
2. Theme proved, Eccl 1:4 to Eccl 3:22.
3. Theme unfolded in the light of human sufferings, hypocrisies, uncertainties, poverty and riches, Eccl 4:1 to Eccl 10:20.
4. The best thing possible to the natural man apart from God, Eccl 11:1 to Eccl 12:12.
5. The best thing possible to man under the law, Eccl 12:13–14.