Anguillian Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, at the California State University, Dr. Rudolph Vanterpool, is the author of the book Thus Spoke the Preacher: Solomon’s Cosmic Gaze from Under the Sun.
Dr. Vanterpool was born on the White Hill, on the eastern end of Anguilla. Among his first achievements, outside the island, was a diploma from the Bluewater Bible College in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. In his own words, it “provided me with a strong foundation for rightly dividing the Word of God. I will forever be grateful for their sacrificial spiritual guidance.”
He went on in his acknowledgements: “To my professors at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, I am grateful for their academic and professional guidance in preparing me for my enthusiasm for teaching philosophy and biblical and cultural studies at private and public institutions of higher learning.”
In the preface to his new book, the Anguillian prolific writer states:
“Without question, the Book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most intriguing of biblical texts. A major feature of this treatise, that has baffled the minds of many, is the way in which the writer treats certain kinds of subject matter. In the estimate of such perplexed readers, Ecclesiastes appears to cover content that is inconsistent with other well-established biblical truths. The book has acquired an unfortunate negative reputation not only among highly respected theologians, but also among conscientious seminarians, intellectually inquisitive lay students of the Bible, and ordinary everyday Christian devotees.
“The topics featured have been so misconstrued that the intended message of this biblical narrative has often been notoriously misunderstood or misapplied. In this study I want to take a closer look at the approach used by the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, with the goal of arriving at cogent conclusions resting on argued support. The approach I follow, which is grounded in what is generally thought of as “critical biblical studies,” is intended to show how well this self-reflective religious narrative fits in consistently with the rest of sacred Scripture.”
Dr. Vanterpool’s 393-page book, an autographed copy of which has been sent to The Anguillian newspaper, begins with a line from Solomon’s Book of Ecclesiastes: Vanity of vanities, says the PREACHER; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. “This startling beginning …has troubled and confused scholars for thousands of years,” Vanterpool writes.
Other books by the Anguillian author are: In Job’s Sandals; From Riches to Rags to Rewards; Speak My Soul: Poems on Migrations and Returns of a Native Son.
Dr. Vanterpool, who has held various academic and professional appointments at the California State University, before and during his early retirement, resides in Carson, California.
