Ecclesiastes 1:9–10—Isn’t it false to claim there is nothing new under the sun?

Problem: Solomon declared here that “there is nothing new under the sun.” But not only is this contrary to science and human history, but it is opposed by other verses of Scripture (cf. Isa. 43:19; Jer. 31:22) where God says He will do “a new thing.”

Solution: Of course there are new inventions, and God does new things. Solomon is not speaking about these, but as to how a human being can be satisfied “under the sun” (v. 8). All the regular means of wine, wealth, wisdom, and works (see Ecc. 2) have already been tried and found wanting.

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.