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OUTLINE OF ECCLESIASTES

Ecc 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Part One: The Thesis That "All Is Vanity" (1:1-11)

I. Introduction of Vanity.............................. 1:1-3    

Ecc 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

II. Illustrations of Vanity.............................. 1:4-11

Ecc 1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

 

Part Two: The Proof That "All Is Vanity" (1:12-6:12)

I. Proof of   "All Is Vanity" from Experience.......................... 1:12-2:26

A.  Vanity of Striving After Wisdom     1:12-18

Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

B.  Vanity of Striving After Pleasure     2:1-3

Ecc 2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

C.  Vanity of Great Accomplishments .... 2:4-17

Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

D.  Vanity of Hard Labour     2:18-23

Ecc 2:18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Ecc 2:19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

E.  Conclusion: Be Content     2:24-26

Ecc 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

II. Proof of "All Is Vanity" from Observation.......................... 3:1-6:12

A.  Immutability of God's Program.......................... 3:1-22

1.  God Predetermines the Events of Life................. 3:1-9

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2.  God Predetermines the Conditions of Life................. 3:10-15

Ecc 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

3.  God Judges All    3:16-22

Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

B.  Inequalities of Life     4:1-16

1.      Evil Oppression    4:1-3

Ecc 4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2.      Folly of Hard Work    4:4-12

Ecc 4:4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

3.      Transience of Popularity    4:13-16

Ecc 4:14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

C.  Insufficiencies of Human Religion     5:1-7

Ecc 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

D.  Insufficiencies of Wealth     5:8-20

1.   Wealth Does Not Satisfy    5:8-12

Ecc 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

2.   Wealth Brings Difficulties    5:13-17

Ecc 5:13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

3.   Wealth Comes Ultimately from God..................... 5:18-20

Ecc 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

E.  Inescapable Vanity of Life     6:1-12

1.   No Satisfaction in Wealth    6:1, 2

Ecc 6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

Ecc 6:2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

2.   No Satisfaction in Children    6:3-6

Ecc 6:3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

3.   No Satisfaction in Labour    6:7, 8

Ecc 6:7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

4.    No Satisfaction in the Future    6:9-12

Ecc 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Part Three: The Counsel for Living with Vanity (7:1-12:14)