Ecclesiastes 7:29 states God made humanity upright, yet they chose many schemes—how does this reconcile with evolutionary science and humanity’s moral progression?

Understanding Ecclesiastes 7:29

“Only this have I found,” says Ecclesiastes 7:29, “I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” The text conveys two key ideas: first, that humanity in its original design was righteous (or “upright”); second, that human beings have diverted from that design through their own devices. The question arises of how this can be reconciled with prevailing ideas in evolutionary science—especially narratives of a gradual moral “progression”—and whether such a departure from original uprightness is congruent with modern scientific or philosophical perspectives.

Humanity’s Original Uprightness

According to the broader scriptural witness (e.g., Genesis 1:26–27), humanity was created in God’s image. This concept underpins the moral, spiritual, and rational ability humans uniquely possess. The idea of being “upright” includes moral rectitude, freedom from inherent corruption, and capacity for complex reasoning. Early rabbinic and Christian sources concur that “upright” signifies unblemished intent and the potential to fellowship with the Creator.

Archaeological finds, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (e.g., 4Q109 and 4Q110 fragments), preserve and confirm very ancient texts of Ecclesiastes, attesting the consistency of how the verse has long been understood: human integrity existed at the start, yet humans chose their own “schemes.” These manuscript discoveries reinforce the reliability of the biblical teaching regarding an originally upright humanity.

The Emergence of “Many Schemes”

Ecclesiastes frames “many schemes” as the self-chosen designs leading people astray. Genesis 3 describes an event—commonly referred to as the Fall—in which humans misused their freedom, introducing moral and spiritual fracture. Subsequent narratives (Genesis 6:5; Romans 5:12) describe how such departure from uprightness impacted future generations. This biblical account underlies the concept that our moral corruption comes not from a faulty initial design but from humanity’s own volition.

Outside ancient Scripture, the Sumerian and Babylonian records likewise contain flood narratives and references to an initially simpler state of humankind followed by moral corruption. While these extra-biblical sources differ in theology, they echo the Scripture’s overarching pattern of a down-spiraling moral trajectory.

Considering Evolutionary Science

Modern evolutionary theory often emphasizes gradual biological change over millions of years, focusing primarily on physical and cognitive development. Some interpretations also claim a concomitant moral progression. However, several points bring perspective:

1. Intelligent Design Insights: Research presented by proponents of Intelligent Design (e.g., in “Darwin’s Doubt” and “Signature in the Cell” by Stephen Meyer) argues that the complexity of life—from DNA information to cellular machinery—suggests a purposeful origin rather than purely random processes. This idea supports the notion of a created, purposeful humanity, fitting the biblical statement that God made people upright.

2. Irreducible Moral Complexity: Even among secular anthropologists, the universal presence of moral codes challenges a view of exclusively gradual moral evolution. Many cultures display similar core moral principles (e.g., prohibitions against murder, theft). This phenomenon aligns with Romans 2:14–15, which teaches that the “work of the law” is written on human hearts—consistent with the concept of original moral uprightness.

3. Human Freedom and the “Schemes”: Whether one interprets certain evolutionary processes as valid for biology, Scripture highlights free will as the key determinant of humanity’s moral condition. If God designed humans with moral agency, then the introduction of “many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29) points to the misapplication of that agency rather than a purely naturalistic moral ascent.

Moral Progression vs. Scriptural Teaching

A purely secular perspective might propose that humanity is steadily improving from primitive states toward enlightened moral standards. While some evolutionary sociologists document how various civilizations enact increasingly robust laws and ethical systems, Scripture attributes moral laws and impulses to God’s creative act. Rather than a neat upward climb, the biblical record shows a complex human story: moments of moral growth (e.g., the giving of the Law in Exodus 20), setbacks (e.g., widespread corruption highlighted in the books of Judges and Kings), and ultimate redemption (Romans 5:18–19).

Interestingly, even historians like Will Durant acknowledged that moral development across societies is uneven and strongly influenced by religious convictions. This uneven moral record can be harmonized with Ecclesiastes 7:29 in that any moral progress that occurs is not the result of purely material processes but arises from intrinsic moral capacity—given at creation—recovering as humans respond to divine instruction.

Supporting Evidence from Archaeology and Manuscripts

1. Dead Sea Scrolls: These scrolls preserve, in ancient Hebrew, large sections of the Old Testament. Ecclesiastes fragments demonstrate that the portrayal of humankind’s upright beginning and subsequent moral descent has been consistently transmitted since before the time of Christ.

2. Ancient Near Eastern Records: Comparative texts (Babylonian “Enuma Elish,” Sumerian “Eridu Genesis”) contain creation and flood motifs reflecting that early societies believed in a divine origin of humans with an ensuing moral decline. While these do not share a biblical worldview in full, they corroborate the notion of an initially commendable human state that degenerated.

3. Geological and Historical Alignments: Proponents of a young earth model cite evidence such as catastrophic flood geology, fossil graveyards, and stratification patterns that could result from a global deluge (Genesis 6–8). While contentious in mainstream science, these findings are presented by organizations like Answers in Genesis (Ken Ham’s group) to argue that Scripture’s depiction of early human corruption leading to global judgment is historically credible.

Behavioral Science Perspectives

From a behavioral standpoint, research indicates humans possess an innate moral sense, often referred to as “conscience.” Developmental psychology consistently shows young children display early moral discernment—fairness, empathy, guilt—distinct from purely learned behavior. This resonates with Ecclesiastes 7:29’s premise that individuals were formed with upright inclinations but that society and personal choices can distort this moral faculty into “many schemes.”

Logical Harmonization

1. Original Uprightness: Humans were designed morally good with an inherent capacity to know and follow divine law.

2. Misuse of Freedom: Moral decline did not arise from flawed design; it originated with the willful choice to devise schemes contrary to righteousness.

3. Scientific Dialogue: Evidence of design and moral universals can support the biblical account that humans had a pure moral template from the start rather than gradually accumulating moral awareness.

4. Spiritual Restoration: While societies may show certain moral improvements, ultimate restoration and salvation come through God’s redemptive plan—made accessible in Christ (Romans 3:23–24).

Concluding Perspective

Ecclesiastes 7:29 underscores that humans were created upright, yet chose alternate paths—“many schemes.” While evolutionary narratives typically focus on material and behavioral changes over eons, the scriptural lens presents a direct creation with immediate moral capacity. Such capacity, even if it aligns externally with certain observable social evolutions, fundamentally stems from an original divine image and free will. Archaeological and manuscript evidence testifies to the enduring integrity of this biblical teaching.

Ultimately, the premise of original uprightness stands unshaken: any moral “progress” we observe does not contradict Scripture but rather highlights that, from the start—despite human deviations—God’s moral law is inscribed upon the human heart (Romans 2:14–15). Ecclesiastes 7:29 remains consistent with both the ancient testimony of Scripture and the moral realities that even modern science, philosophy, and archaeology, to varying degrees, confirm.