Review
"Christianson's study of Ecclesiastes's cultural impact is rich and rewarding. [He] beautifully exposits the material that he treats, and suggests by brief reference some other avenues of fruitful exploration. In these ways,
Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries serves both as an excellent treatment of the title theme and a good model for other reception histories to follow. The book may be heartily recommended, without reservation." (
Bible and Critical Theory)
"A fundamental resource on biblical interpretation, especially in the modern world, this book is a winner." (International Review of Biblical Studies)
"The introduction and commentary proper cover many topics, from patristic and rabbinic exegesis through to modern science-fiction, with numerous stops on the way.... Very well written and accessible ... an excellent book." (Society for Old Testament Study Book List)
"Students of Ecclesiastes have been waiting a good many years for a book like Eric Christianson's study … Not since the time of Christian David Ginsburg's magisterial commentary Coheleth (commonly called the Book of Ecclesiastes) in 1861 has there been such a thorough survey of the reception history of Ecclesiastes." (Lutheran Theological Journal)
"With the text's many difficult and provocative passages, the reception history of Ecclesiastes is always going to be more interesting than that of many biblical books, and in this erudite but entertaining commentary, Christianson takes full advantage of the rich materials at his disposal.... The introduction and commentary proper cover many topics, from patristic and rabbinic exegesis through to modern science-fiction, with numerous stops on the way.... Christianson is a genial guide throughout, and his own enthusiasm is clear; the book is very well written and accessible, moreover, so that it should appeal to both specialists and a wider public.... Overall an excellent book." (Society for Old Testament Study Book List)
"A fundamental resource on biblical interpretation, especially in the modern world, this book is a winner." (International Review of Biblical Studies)
Book Description
Over the centuries, Ecclesiastes has influenced numerous aspects of life and thought. Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries assesses the diverse effects of the book on the culture of the various times in religion, art, and social thought. Ecclesiastes shaped the life of European abbeys of the middle ages; for Renaissance thinkers it provided a sceptical line of inquiry weighted with the disquieting authority of Scripture. The imagination of artists, musicians, and poets from the Renaissance to the present day were, and continue to be, inspired by it. The influence of Ecclesiastes on literature has engaged the minds of authors as diverse as Bacon, Donne, Eliot, Hardy, and Melville, as well as numerous Elizabethan poets. This commentary traces all of these influences as well as the fascinating range of Jewish and Christian readings about the impact of Ecclesiastes. The result is an informative and broad-ranging approach to the impact of this book through the centuries that will engage all those studying Ecclesiastes. For further information about the Blackwell Bible Commentaries please visit http://bbibcomm.net.
