Says David Hubbard, "Anyone to whom the book of Ecclesiastes is not a puzzle has not yet read it” (Beyond Futility, 7). This admission from a seasoned scholar is as honest as it is truthful. While this inspired text grapples with the perennially relevant aches for meaning and purpose with which every thoughtful human being is familiar, it does so in ways that are unavoidably humbling, probing, and, at times, puzzling. But to those who endure in prayer and study, the rewards for such effort are great. 

Today we welcome back to the podcast Dr. Christopher Cone. Dr. Cone has served as the president of a number of theological institutions over the years. He’s a scholar and theologian, professor and preacher, and currently serves as the president and CEO of AgathonEDU educational group. Dr. Cone has also written, contributed to, or edited over a dozen books, one of which is a study in the biblical book of Ecclesiastes, the topic of our conversation today.