Encountering Ecclesiastes: A Book for Our Time [Paperback]

James Limburg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2006

Unpacks an ancient books essential message for people facing the chanciness of life today.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Walter Brueggemann — Columbia Theological Seminary "The book of Ecclesiastes requires an interpreter who is well grounded in tradition, alert to the cranky realities of life, able to sit honestly in the darkness, free to believe against all the data of dailyness, and artistic enough to render the mundane in a way that compels. James Limburg is just such an interpreter. . . . His book is as timely and summoning as is Ecclesiastes itself"

Rabbi Barry D. Cytron — University of St. Thomas "Encountering Ecclesiastes is a learned, lovely, and loving introduction to one of the most captivating books of the Bible. How fortunate we readers are to have the skilled guidance of James Limburg, with his wide reading, keen attention to language, and obvious reverence for this great and profound scroll of the Bible."

Patrick Miller — Princeton Theological Seminary "In Encountering Ecclesiastes — not your typical commentary — James Limburg places this book of wisdom in conversation with many voices, living and dead, from Pete Seeger to Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Limburg's own bored and questioning students. Ecclesiastes comes to life in accessible and sometimes moving ways as Limburg explores its echoes through the halls of Scripture, moving the book from its often isolated place to stand fully with Moses and the prophets as God’s word to us about how to live and how to trust."

About the Author

James Limburg is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. He has written more than a dozen books, including Find Yourself in the Psalms and the Westminster Bible Companion volume on Psalms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (July 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802830471
• ISBN-13: 978-0802830470
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #694,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, December 12, 2006

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Joshua D. Jones (Nottingham, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Encountering Ecclesiastes: A Book for Our Time (Paperback)

The book is too short, but it contains some great thoughts.
The author has a very "earthy theology" and he pulls on some very good letters from Bonhoffer to underline his understanding of Ecclesiasties in this respect.
He also deals with how our attitude toward life should be in the face of death. I recommend this book to anyone meditating on Ecc. Its not a verse by verse commentary really nor does it seek to give a systematic theology of the book. But, I think the author captures the spirit of the book well and presents us with very readable musings ont he book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to an intriguing text, May 12, 2007

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Robert G. Janis (Bethlehem, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Encountering Ecclesiastes: A Book for Our Time (Paperback)

A very readable and contemporary take on the Book of Ecclesiastes, written from a Christian perspective. Limburg sees the book and its writer in an ultimately positive light, counselling us to enjoy our God-given life even in the midst of confusion and aging. He discusses workaholism and Bonhoeffer in thoughtful ways.

This is a good basic introduction to the book, the prose flows very well. No index. For a fuller, more scholarly, and very insightful read on Ecclesiastes, I recommend Jacques Ellul.Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful, Sermon, Ideas., September 3, 2008

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Matthew Morine (Castle Rock, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Encountering Ecclesiastes: A Book for Our Time (Paperback)

This is another book that is part of the class on Moral Formation and Wisdom Literature. This book is enlightening on the nature of this style of wisdom. From earlier impressions of Ecclesiastes, it seems to be a depressing book. The author has a negative view of life. He always harps on "Hevel" which is the Hebrew word for "vanity." "Hevel" rhymes with "Level." But really the book is full of wisdom for modern society. It provides a balanced perspective in life. Life is vanity, but the author does not tell one to reject this world for the world to come, but rather informs the reader to embrace life while you have it. It really provides some counter wisdom. It counsels the young man to life it up in his youth, but always remember God is watching. It tells the man to eat, drink, and be merry. This little book should be preached in a lot of joyless congregation. It encourages the Christian to enjoy life. In fact, I liked the book so much I am going to be preaching a series of lessons from it for the congregation and for the class at Harding Graduate. If you want to preach on Ecclesiasties, read this book first.