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Ecclesiastes 12:8
The verse that concludes the main body of Ecclesiastes, repeating the book's opening declaration in 1:2, "Vanity of vanities," to sum up the transience of life under the sun. It is often cited as the thematic statement of the whole book, and the meaning of "vanity" has been interpreted in several ways.
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes is a book of Old Testament wisdom literature. It reflects on the transience, or "vanity," of all things in the world and concludes that fearing God is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 5:4–5
The Preacher's exhortation that a vow made to God should be paid without delay, and that it is better not to vow than to vow and not pay. In Korean churches the passage is frequently cited in connection with vow prayers, vow offerings, and calls to pastoral ministry.
Ecclesiastes 11:9–10
A passage in which the Preacher urges a young man to enjoy his youth while remembering that God will bring every deed into judgment. Because it joins enjoyment and accountability in a single sentence and observes that youth passes quickly, it is frequently cited in sermons addressed to young people.
Ecclesiastes 2
In Ecclesiastes 2 the Preacher tests, in turn, pleasure, great works and wealth, wisdom, and a lifetime of labor, and concludes that all of it is "vanity and vexation of spirit." At the end he says that the enjoyment found in eating, drinking, and taking pleasure in one's labor comes from the hand of God.
Ecclesiastes 4
Ecclesiastes 4 records the Preacher's reflections on the oppression and envy he has seen under the sun, on solitary toil, and on the fleeting nature of power, and teaches that two are better than one.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Ecclesiastes 1:2 is the opening thematic verse of Ecclesiastes, in which the Preacher declares, "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." It is widely cited as a classic statement of the transience of life. Interpretations vary regarding the meaning of the Hebrew word rendered "vanity" and the message of Ecclesiastes as a whole.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
The closing words of Ecclesiastes, which declare that to fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man and that God will bring every work into judgment. The passage is frequently cited as a condensed statement of the book's conclusion, and its relationship to the main body of the book is also debated.
Topical Preaching
Topical preaching is a method of preaching in which the preacher first selects a topic and then gathers various Scripture passages related to that topic to build an argument.
Pulpit
In Korean usage, the term rendered "pulpit" (gangdan, 講壇) refers to a platform at the front of a sanctuary, raised above the congregational seating, where the preacher stands to preach and lead worship. It can also refer to the preaching stand placed on that platform or to the ministry of preaching itself.
Edward Mote
Edward Mote (1797–1874) was an English Baptist minister and hymn writer. He wrote the text of the hymn sung in Korean churches as "I Mom-ui Sowang Mu-en-ga" ("What Is My Hope?").
Ecclesiastes 8:17
Ecclesiastes 8:17 states that no matter how hard a person labors, he cannot fully comprehend the work of God that is done "under the sun." The verse is frequently cited in discussions of the limits of human wisdom and of divine providence.
Ecclesiastes 5:15
A verse stating that just as a person came forth naked from the womb, so at death he takes nothing of what he has labored to gain. It is frequently cited alongside Job 1:21 and 1 Timothy 6:7 in discussions of the transience of wealth and the finitude of human life.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 is a poem that uses fourteen pairs of contrasting lines to declare that God has appointed a time for everything. Because it sets the transience of human life alongside God's providence, it is frequently cited in funeral and New Year sermons.
Ecclesiastes 12
The final chapter of Ecclesiastes urges readers to remember their Creator in the days of youth, before old age and death arrive. It closes the book with the conclusion that fearing God and keeping His commandments is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 6
Ecclesiastes 6 describes as "vanity" the plight of a person who receives riches and honor from God yet cannot enjoy them. In twelve verses, the chapter addresses the futility of endless desire and the human inability to know what lies ahead.
Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 3 declares, in fourteen pairs of opposites, that there is an appointed time for everything under heaven. It then reflects on human labor and the work of God, on injustice and judgment, and on the death that comes alike to humans and animals.
Ecclesiastes 9
Ecclesiastes 9 opens with the observation that the righteous and the wicked alike meet the same end in death, and it urges the reader to enjoy the life he has been given and to work diligently. It then addresses the value and limits of wisdom through reflections on time and chance and the illustration of a poor wise man.
Ecclesiastes 1
Ecclesiastes 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. It declares the book's theme, "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity," and describes the endless cycles of nature and history and the limits of the pursuit of wisdom.
Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen (born 1963) is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church, a megachurch in Houston, Texas, and a television preacher. He is widely known in Korea as the author of *Your Best Life Now*, published in Korean as *Geungjeong-ui Him* (긍정의 힘, "The Power of Positivity").