1. Man in search of Meaning in life MAKING SENSE OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES Through a viable interpretive strategy SCBC Adult Sunday school Class – Session Two Kenneth Lau March 3, 2013

2. Session Overview Objectives Objectives Genre/Literary form Genre/Literary form Motto, Motif and recurring questions Motto, Motif and recurring questions Scholars reading strategies Scholars reading strategies Our reading strategy Our reading strategy Identification of the troubling issues Identification of the troubling issues The approach adopted by Qoheleth The approach adopted by Qoheleth

3. Genre/Literary form What are the observed literary forms of the text? What are the observed literary forms of the text? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

4. What are the Motto, Motif and recurring Questions? Motto ________________________________ Motto ________________________________ Motif ________________________________ Motif ________________________________ Recurring Questions ________________________________ ________________________________ Recurring Questions ________________________________ ________________________________ Qoheleth’s Approach ________________________________ Qoheleth’s Approach ________________________________

5. Scholars Reading Strategies Allegory reading Allegory reading Critical reading Critical reading Literary reading Literary reading Structural reading Structural reading Dialogical reading Dialogical reading Rhetorical reading Rhetorical reading

6. Structure and Division Structure Structure – Prologue 1:1-11 – Qoheleth’s finding 1:12 - 12:7 – The Epilogue 12:8 - 14 Division Division – The search and the realities 1:12- 4:8 – The reflection and the truths 4:9 - 6:2 – More reflection and searches 7:1- 9:18 – The realization 1:12- 4:8 – The conclusion 12:8 -14

7. Viable Interpretive Strategy Through the self engaging journey of search and reflection of Qoheleth Through a rhetorical reading approach

8. Delving into the Book Overall conclusion and the cyclicality of events (1:2-3, 1:4-11) Overall conclusion and the cyclicality of events (1:2-3, 1:4-11) Searching.....Looking for satisfaction and sense of meaning Searching.....Looking for satisfaction and sense of meaning Wisdom (1:12-18) Wisdom (1:12-18) Pleasure, possession (2:1-11) Pleasure, possession (2:1-11) An assessment (2:12-17) An assessment (2:12-17) Labour (2:18-26)..... & God Labour (2:18-26)..... & God The reality The reality Ordinance of Timing & harshness of life (3:1-15, 3:16-4:3) Ordinance of Timing & harshness of life (3:1-15, 3:16-4:3) Running a Rat Race? (4:4-8) Running a Rat Race? (4:4-8)

9. Something for you to do... Read 4:9 - 9:18 carefully before third session Read 4:9 - 9:18 carefully before third session Jot down your observation and try to link up with what we have been studying so far. Jot down your observation and try to link up with what we have been studying so far. Reflect upon the findings of Qoheleth and your own world of reality and write down anything thoughts and feeling that you may have Reflect upon the findings of Qoheleth and your own world of reality and write down anything thoughts and feeling that you may have