.
Christ's teachings trump Solomon's
● Matt 12:42 . .The queen of the south will be raised up in the judgment
with this generation and will condemn it; because she came from the ends of
the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, but, look! something more than
Solomon is here.
Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes from the perspective of a
philosophical man who's understanding of life and the hereafter is
moderated by empirical evidence and the normal round of human
experience. Ecclesiastes is handy for showing that not all spiritual people are
kooks with their heads in the clouds and unable to see things as they are
through the eyes of normal people.
To my knowledge, Solomon had never seen the afterlife for himself, viz: he
wasn't an expert witness; whereas Christ had seen the afterlife for himself
and knew what he was talking about.
● John 3:31-32 . . He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the
earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven
is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that he bears witness.
Christ is also highly recommended, whereas to my knowledge, Solomon
isn't.
● Matt 17:5 . . This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to
him.
So then, when encountering remarks in the book of Ecclesiastes that are out
of step with the Christ's teachings in the New Testament; my unsolicited
spiritual counseling is to ignore Solomon and go with the wisdom of "my
Son".
Too many people regard Christ as just another prophet with no more
authority than prophets before him. That is a very, very big mistake.
● John 8:12 . . I am the light of the world. He that follows me will by no
means walk in darkness, but will possess the light of life.
FAQ: Doesn't the apostle Paul say that all Scripture is God breathed?
A: Every now and then I encounter people on internet forums who've yet to
be taught the difference between inspiration and dictation.
Solomon was no doubt inspired to record his personal world view in the book
of Ecclesiastes, but it's a mistake to assume his world view quotes the
Father word-for-word the way Christ does.
● John 1:1-14 . . In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and truth.
● John 3:34 . . For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's
Spirit is upon him without measure or limit
● John 8:26 . .He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things
which I have heard of Him.
● John 8:28 . . I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as
the Father taught me.
● John 12:49 . . I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me,
he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
● John 14:24 . .The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who
sent me.
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