Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, The Question Of Alcohol

Ecclesiastes 2:3 I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

The Tanakh renders the opening of this verse, “I ventured to tempt my flesh with wine, and to grasp folly, while letting my mind direct with wisdom.” The NIV translates the verse’s opening as, “I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom.” The preacher is looking to use an intoxicant to, as he states it, “gratify my flesh.” 

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, Testing Mirth

Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

Remember, the preacher’s first objective was to test the path of pleasure through wisdom. He already deemed the entire affair to be vanity, but he presses on. First, he focuses on laughter.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, Pursuing Pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity.

The Hebrew term for “mirth” is “simchah,” and means, “blithesomeness or glee.” Furthermore it is explained that the term is both an external expression for joy, and the representation of the abstract feeling or concept of joy. Synonyms for joy include happiness, delight, or pleasure.

Molehills: The Ecumenical Movement

Oxford defines “ecumenism” as, “the aim of promoting unity among the world’s Christian Churches.” A surface inspection suggests that this is a noble, admirable goal. After all, Scripture states that Christians should endeavor, “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” Ephesians 4:3. Psalm 133, which I could quote in its entirety regarding the topic, says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1.