Evaluation

Overall Score: 8.3/10

A sober, hopeful Ecclesiastes commentary that helps us preach vanity, providence, and the fear of God with pastoral care.

Publication Date(s): 1960

Pages: 352

ISBN: 9780851513225

Faithfulness to the Text: 8.5/10

We find a steady concern to follow the argument and repeated refrains of Ecclesiastes, letting the book do its intended work on us.

Christ Centredness: 7.8/10

Christ is not forced onto every line, yet the call to fear God and abandon self made meaning supports gospel preaching with integrity.

Depth of Insight: 8.6/10

We are helped by Bridges’s spiritual diagnosis and his ability to connect Ecclesiastes to real pastoral situations.

Clarity of Writing: 8/10

Clear enough for regular use, with a measured pace that matches the book’s reflective character.

Pastoral Usefulness: 8.8/10

Strong for counselling, endurance, and shaping a congregation that fears God and lives wisely under His hand.

Readability: 8.1/10

Readable and fairly concise compared with other classics, making it workable for sermon preparation.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: 352 pages
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Theo. Perspective: Reformed
Overall score: 8.3 / 10
Strength: Excellent pastoral application that matches Ecclesiastes’ purpose and tone.
Limitation: Less focused on modern academic debates and technical detail.

We find Bridges’s Ecclesiastes a sober and consoling guide to one of Scripture’s most searching books. He helps us hear the Preacher’s repeated exposure of vanity, and he shows how Ecclesiastes dismantles our false refuges so that we learn to fear God and enjoy His gifts rightly.

The tone is realistic about suffering, disappointment, and the limits of human wisdom, yet it is not bleak. Bridges repeatedly presses us toward humble dependence, patient obedience, and settled trust in the Lord’s providence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary because it helps us preach Ecclesiastes with honesty and hope. Bridges does not soften the book’s edge, but he also prevents us from turning it into a philosophy lecture.

We also benefit from the pastoral aim. He helps us address weary saints, ambitious strivers, and anxious hearts, and he shows how Ecclesiastes calls us to repentance from self made meaning.

For teaching, it supports exposition that is both searching and gentle, and it helps the church learn contentment under God.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong mid level resource for preaching Ecclesiastes, particularly when we want help applying its realism with tenderness. A modern commentary may assist with some interpretive debates, but Bridges remains excellent for pastoral use.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

Where to buy

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