It's easy to recognize a narrative, and in a narrative false statements may be made by the characters. But, as far as I can see, the narrative of Solomon's story is in chapters 1 and 2, not in the whole book of Ecclesiastes. Besides, the main question for me is, Who is going to determine what represents the mind and will of the Spirit and what doesn't? Human beings? Many of them have already told me that Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10 doesn't represent the position of the Bible about the state of the dead, but is just an expression of Solomon's bitterness.


James apparently contradicts Paul but, although it may be difficult, isn't there a way to harmonize them?

Of course! And there's only one human being who can do this: you!

But when you read the rest of Ecclesiastes, isn't that still a narrative, in the sense that you and Solomon are interacting? Sarah tells Abraham something; Solomon tells you something.



When Sarah was talking, Abraham was the one to decide if what she was saying is congruent with God's voice. The same with Eve and the serpent. The same thing with us and Solomon.

Remember, when told to kill his son, Abraham could tell that the voice was God's. Tough trick.



I obviously don't agree, but it's a valid argument if you just take Ecclesiastes by itself.

More later.

In that case, Paul tells me something, Peter tells me something, John tells me something, and I decide what applies to my life and what doesn't.

We need to look at Ecclesiastes as being included in the following text:


In other words, Ecclesiastes is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Sort of, but not exactly.

First, you decide if what God says applies to your life. If you decide to submit to God, then you decide if what Paul, Peter, and John say are equivalent to what God says.

Of course, all this is done under that constant wooing of the Holy Spirit.

Take Peter, for example. We have him on record saying many things. Do they all apply to you? The Holy Spirit will help you decide which ones do and which ones don't.

I agree. But it can be profitable without being taken literally, at face value. In fact, it can be profitable without being correct.

What do you mean by "without being correct"?

For example, it is profitable to study Abraham marrying Hagar, even though that was wrong. Even studying Eve's interaction with Satan at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is profitable. Studying what Satan said to Eve is profitable.

God has recorded these in His word because they are "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," even though we are not to take them as precepts or examples of righteousness.

I can see the same thing apply in some of Ecclesiastes. There are several possible explanations of why Solomon wrote what he wrote, but I don't think we can necessarily accept them all exactly as they read.