Iso-chats: Theology
Ecclesiastes and a world in crisis, with George Athas
What does the Bible have to say to a world in crisis? In my latest Iso-Chat, I speak to my friend and colleague George Athas about the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is about a crisis—a crisis involving disaster, despair and death. In the end, it is a theological crisis of confidence in God’s promises and purposes for his people. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes faces the stark reality of a situation where God’s intentions seem unfathomable, crying out for an answer but finding none in his present circumstances. Yet even in the depths of the Teacher’s pessimism, Ecclesiastes speaks to us. As we engage with this biblical book, we find ourselves, even in our own circumstances of suffering, and even of despair and death, longing even more for the certain hope and meaning given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
George is Director of Research and Lecturer in Old Testament at Moore College. His commentary on Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs is available here:
George Athas, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Story of God Bible Commentary; Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020).
Video
This interview is also available as a video on YouTube.