Who wrote Ecclesiastes:

If one were only to evaluate the writing style and nature of Ecclesiastes they would undoubtedly conclude Solomon was the author. Even the content strongly suggests the author is Solomon. The author identifies himself as “the Teacher” and “son of David” (Ecclesiastes 1:1). He states he “was king over Israel in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:12). Verse 16 states:

I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much wisdom and knowledge.”

Only Solomon would be capable of making such a immodest statement. No king following Solomon could ever claim his wisdom came close to that of Solomon’s.

However, many point to the depressive nature of Ecclesiastes and questionable content as evidence that, not only did Solomon not write Ecclesiastes, but that Ecclesiastes does not belong in the Bible. These statements include:

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: as one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from the dust , and to dust all return. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?

Ecclesiastes 3:19-21

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him-for this is his lot,

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise-
why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwickked,
and do not be a fool-
why die before your time?

Ecclesiastes 7:16-17

While these quotes may paint the author as hedonistic with a questionable outlook regarding morality and the afterlife, this inference is misleading. A reading of the conclusion of Ecclesiastes appears to contradict the quotes above:

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you say, “I find no pleasure in them” – before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; When men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.

Remember him- before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel is broken at the well, and the dust return to the ground it came from, and the spirit return to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

If one were to stop reading the book of Job at chapter 42 verse 9 they would conclude God is sadistic and cruel. However, the acts of God in Job 42:10-17 explain the acts preceding. Ecclesiastes works much the same way. The conclusion of Ecclesiastes reveals the preceding “wisdom” is a wisdom apart from a true relationship with God. It is wisdom of man.

According to the author of Ecclesiastes, the world is “meaningless” and “a chasing after the wind” apart from a relationship with God. This theology is certainly in line with Solomon’s teachings.