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 LONDON • NEW DELHI • NEW YORK • SYDNEY Bloomsbury T&T Clark An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Imprint previously known as T&T Clark 50 Bedford Square 1385 Broadway London New York WC1B 3DP NY 10018 UK USA www.bloomsbury.com BLOOMSBURY, T&T CLARK and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 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 any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author. 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