Ecclesiastes 3 in the early church
137 passages quote, allude to, or echo Ecclesiastes 3, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:1–8 | On Pascha 38 · text not on this site · Melito of Sardis | echo, low confidence | ca. 160-180 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Acts of Thomas 66 · Anonymous | echo, low confidence | ca. 200–250 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Against Marcion 5.4 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Eccl 3:1 | On the Veiling of Virgins 1 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 208–213 |
| Eccl 3:1 | On Monogamy 3 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–217 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Fragments on Job, column 93 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:1 | Commentary on Matthew 10.10 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Homilies 2.3 · Anonymous | echo, low confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Eccl 3:1 | Recognitions 2.21 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Oration 2.41 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Oration 6.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Oration 21.20 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Homilies 13.1 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Eccl 3:1–4 | Homily 6 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 379–394 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Theological Oration 1 (Or. 27), Against the Eunomians 4 · Gregory of Nazianzus | quotation, high confidence | 380 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Exposition of Psalm 118 19.17.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:1–2 | Hexameron (Exameron) 5.30 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.72.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Eccl 3:1–2 | Against Jovinianus 1.29 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Letters 13.10 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Letters 35.1 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:1 | Letters 40.1 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:1 | 1 Corinthians 7:31 · Pelagius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 405–410 |
| Eccl 3:1–8 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 8.3 · Augustine of Hippo | echo, medium confidence | ca. 407 |
| Eccl 3:1–3 | Apologetic Book 28.3 · Orosius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415–416 |
| Eccl 3:1 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:2
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:2 | Against Marcion 1.29 · Tertullian | echo, medium confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Eccl 3:2 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:2 | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 78 · Origen | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| Eccl 3:2 | Catechetical Lecture 20.4 · Cyril of Jerusalem | quotation, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Eccl 3:2 | Defence of His Flight 13 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357 |
| Eccl 3:2 | Oration 40.13 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:2 | Homilies 13.1 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Eccl 3:2 | On Tobit 43 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Eccl 3:2 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:3
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:3 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:3–11 | Fragment E III (on Ecclesiastes) · Dionysius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–265 |
| Eccl 3:3 | On Tobit 43 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Eccl 3:3 | Letters 40.5 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:3 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:4 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:4 | Letter 2.5 · Antony the Great | allusion, medium confidence | before 356 |
| Eccl 3:4 | Letter 36.5 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Eccl 3:4 | Letters 13.10 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:4 | Letters 35.1 · Paulinus of Nola | echo, medium confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:4 | Letters 40.5 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:4 | 1 Corinthians 7:31 · Pelagius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 405–410 |
| Eccl 3:4 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:5
a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
Ecclesiastes 3:6
a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:6 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:6 | On Tobit 43 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Eccl 3:6 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:7
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:7 | Sentences of Sextus 160 · Anonymous | echo, low confidence | 2nd-early 3rd cent. |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letters to Virgins 1.11.5 · Anonymous | allusion, low confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:7 | Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 4 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Fragments on Job, column 93 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:7 | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| Eccl 3:7 | Commentary on Romans 7.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Eccl 3:7 | Against Constantius 1 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–361 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Oration 6.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Oration 12.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus | echo, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letter 148.1 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Eccl 3:7 | On the Holy Spirit 29.75 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 374–375 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Life of Paul the Hermit 13 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 375–379 |
| Eccl 3:7 | On the Duties of the Clergy 1.3 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Exposition of Psalm 118 2.26.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.20.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.36.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letter 172.1 · Augustine of Hippo | echo, medium confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letter 216.1 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Hexameron (Exameron) 5.90 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 38.5.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.72.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Sermon 357.4 · Augustine of Hippo | echo, low confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letters 13.1 · Paulinus of Nola | echo, medium confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letters 40.1 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:7 | Letters 40.2 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| Eccl 3:7 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:8
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:8 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:8 | On the Singleness of Clerics 13 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Eccl 3:8 | Oration 22.15 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:8 | Oration 40.13 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Eccl 3:8–13 | Homily 8 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 379–394 |
| Eccl 3:8 | Exposition of Psalm 118 15.17.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:8 | Exposition of Psalm 118 15.20.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:8 | Against Jovinianus 1.29 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| Eccl 3:8 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:9
What does the worker gain from his toil?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:9 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:10 | Against Jovinianus 1.13 · Jerome | allusion, medium confidence | 393 |
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:11 | Letters to Serapion 1.15 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 357–360 |
| Eccl 3:11 | Exposition of Psalm 118 16.38.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Eccl 3:11 | The Conferences 23.3 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:12
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:12 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
Ecclesiastes 3:13
and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:13 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
Ecclesiastes 3:14
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:14 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:14 | The Conferences 8.24 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:15
What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:15 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:15–16 | On Saint Athanasius 1.35 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| Eccl 3:15 | Letter 133.2 · Jerome | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Eccl 3:15 | Sermon 70 · Peter Chrysologus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
Ecclesiastes 3:16
Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:16 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:16–17 | Apologetic Book 28.4 · Orosius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415–416 |
Ecclesiastes 3:17
I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:17 | The Conferences 21.12 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Ecclesiastes 3:18
I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:18 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
Ecclesiastes 3:19
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:19 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:19 | Letter 108.27 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
Ecclesiastes 3:20
All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:20 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
Ecclesiastes 3:21
Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:21 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |
| Eccl 3:21 | On the Workmanship of God 8.2 · Lactantius | echo, low confidence | ca. 303–305 |
| Eccl 3:21 | On the Holy Spirit 54 · Didymus the Blind | quotation, high confidence | Greek ca. 360-390; Latin 387-391 |
| Eccl 3:21 | Letter 238.15 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Eccl 3:21 | On the Trinity 14.16 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 399–419 |
| Eccl 3:21 | Literal Commentary on Genesis 12.7 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 401–415 |
| Eccl 3:21 | City of God 13.24 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Eccl 3:21 | On the Soul and Its Origin 4.37 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 419–420 |
Ecclesiastes 3:22
I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eccl 3:22 | Metaphrase of Ecclesiastes 3 · Gregory Thaumaturgus | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century |