Singing at the Winepress: Ecclesiastes and the Ethics of Work

265 Pages·2015·1.537 MB·English

by  Tyler Atkinson

Singing at the Winepress
ii
Singing at the Winepress
Ecclesiastes and the Ethics of Work
Tyler Atkinson
Bloomsbury T&T Clark
An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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BLOOMSBURY, T&T CLARK and the Diana logo are trademarks of
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First published 2015
© Tyler Atkinson, 2015
Tyler Atkinson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: HB: 978-0-567-65991-0
ePDF: 978-0-567-65992-7
ePub: 978-0-567-65993-4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Atkinson, Tyler.
Singing at the winepress: Ecclesiastes and the ethics of work/by Tyler Atkinson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-567-65991-0 (hdbk : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-0-567-65993-4 (epub)
– ISBN 978-0-567-65992-7 (epdf) 1. Work–Biblical teaching. 2. Bible. Ecclesiastes–Criticism,
interpretation, etc. 3. Bonaventure, Saint, Cardinal, approximately 1217-1274.
4. Luther, Martin, 1483-1546. I. Title.
BS1475.6.W735A85 2015
223’.806–dc23
2014036726
Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
This book is dedicated to a “threefold cord” of dear people without whom this
project would not have been conceived, continued, or completed:
It is dedicated in loving memory to a teacher, mentor, and friend who invited me
to sit with Qoheleth as I was struggling to make sense of my own experience of
contradictions. David Knauert, though you were taken from us like Abel (לבה),
your words, like Qoheleth’s, are still found to be pleasing and true, if not at the
same time a little enigmatic.
Also, to a steadfast and loving friend, who consistently proves that “two are better
than one.” Tyler Garrard, not only do you share my name, but your kindred
love for Ecclesiastes, as well as your willingness to mourn and dance with me
always at the right time, has been a constant source of grace in my life. I love
you, brother.
Finally, to “the wife whom I love.” Rachel Ann, during our years spent in Scotland,
I found it easy to follow Qoheleth’s imperative to enjoy life with you. I am forever
thankful for the sacrifices you have made for my sake. Yet, I am also glad that
God provided more times to laugh than to weep while we spent life together on
the Caledonian shores. And, in God’s kairos, the “time to bear” visited us when
we least expected it! Amen.
vi
Contents
Acknowledgments x
Abbreviations xiv
Introduction: Ecclesiastes: Relevant for Theological Ethics? 1
Ecclesiastes and Theological Ethics 3
Biblical Studies 4
Theological Ethics 8
Reasons for Neglect 11
Formal Reasons 11
Theological Reasons 13
Wisdom Literature 13
Ecclesiastes 17
Ecclesiastes and Contemporary Theologies of Work 22
Why St Bonaventure and Martin Luther? 26
Qoheleth on Novelty and Nostalgia 26
Historical-Critical Reasons 28
Historical-Theological Reasons 29
Contemptus Mundi and the Enjoyment of Creatures 30
Points of Theological Convergence and Divergence 32
Locating an Ethic of Work in Ecclesiastes: The Direction of this Book 35
1 Qoheleth’s Perplexing Story: Six Topics for Theological-Ethical
Engagement 39
Composition and Structure 40
Qoheleth and the Figure of Solomon 49
Vanitas 53
Perception and Epistemology 56
Cult, Economy, and Politics 60
Time 61
Carpe Diem 61
Conclusion 63
viii Contents
2 Solomon’s Manual for Penitents: St Bonaventure on Ecclesiastes 65
The Context of Bonaventure’s Commentary on Ecclesiastes 67
An “Academic Commentary” 67
Bonaventure’s Place within the Interpretative Tradition 70
The Character of Solomon 74
Solomon’s Experience: The Efficient Cause of Ecclesiastes 74
Solomon’s “Dialogues”: The Formal Cause of Ecclesiastes 77
Vanitas: From Contemplative Contempt to Contemptuous Guilt 80
Bonaventure’s Nuanced Version of Contemptus Mundi 80
Bonaventure’s Metaphysics: Emanation, Exemplarity, and
Consummation 81
Creation as a Wedding Ring: Defending the Final Cause of
Ecclesiastes 86
Triplex vanitas: Defending the Material Cause of Ecclesiastes 89
Vanitas Mutabilitatis 91
Curiositas: The Corruption of the Liberal and Mechanical Arts 99
Curiositas According to Augustine 99
Solomon’s Duplex Curiositas 107
The Curiosity of the “Athenians” 113
Conclusion 118
3 Solomon’s Sermon for the Oeconomia and the Politia: Martin
Luther on Ecclesiastes 121
The Context of Luther’s “Notes on Ecclesiastes” 123
From Bonaventure to Luther 126
The Final Cause of Ecclesiastes 127
The Material Cause of Ecclesiastes 128
The Formal Cause of Ecclesiastes 129
The Efficient Cause of Ecclesiastes 130
The Character of Solomon 133
Ecclesiastes as Solomon’s Confessions 133
Ecclesiastes as Solomon’s “Sermon on the Mount” 137
The Three Estates 142
Introduction to Luther’s drei Stände 142
The Ecclesia 153
The Oeconomia 157
The Politia 161
Contents ix
Time 164
The Concupiscentia Futurorum 165
The Hora (Stündelein) 168
Accipe Horam 173
Carpe Diem? 174
Rest-in-Use: Luther’s Deployment of Augustine’s
Usus/Fruitio Distinction 178
Conclusion 184
4 Qoheleth’s Work Ethic: Human Work in the Work of God 187
The Words and Works of Humanity in the Word and Work of
God: Reading Ecclesiastes Christologically 191
Ecclesiastes 1:4-11: Work as an Invitation to Perceive the
“Words” through the Word 192
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15: Work as an Invitation to Participate in
Christ’s New Work in the Present 197
Qoheleth’s Work Ethic and Contemporary Theologies of Work 205
Work and Protology 207
Work and Eschatology 211
Ecclesiastes: Protology and Eschatology Worked through
Christology 216
Conclusion: Singing at the Winepress 224
Bibliography 227
Biblical and Apocryphal Sources 239
Name Index 243