Allen addresses things from the standpoint of modern scholarship in the Bible, and in particular historical-critical interpretative frameworks. 'Strictly speaking, many of the exegetical disciplines are descriptive and not theological.' In saying this, Allen puts forth a thesis that is broad-based - this is a text that can be useful to people of differing theological persuasions conservative and liberal. Likewise, Allen does not shy away from the shortcomings or controversies of the historical-critical enterprise, or any other academic endeavour with regard to Biblical scholarship. A book from Allen's early days of teachings, it shows (when taken with his later scholarship, which is extensive) how remarkably consistent his work has been.

The topics discussed in this book include historical background, form criticism, redaction criticism, structuralism, sociological exegesis, and canonical criticism. These ideas will be familiar to students and graduates of seminaries, Bible colleges, and schools of religion, and no doubt most will already have a notion as to their relative value for Biblical study and interpretation. Allen takes this into account as he develops each theme. 'When a pastor settles down with a text to begin sermon preparation, he or she is seldom a tabula rasa, a blank slate,' Allen writes. In giving key questions, specific scriptural examples, and suggestions for further readings, the reader of most any slant will find useful information and guidance.

Allen devotes a special chapter to the concerns of liberation theology. Liberation theology is not a particular discipline of exegesis, but rather a broader framework of interpretation that has developed in the later half of the twentieth century that seeks to find the liberating voice of God in scripture and church action. Drawing on themes from the Hebrew scriptures and the gospels, Allen shows ways of incorporating liberation ideas into responsible biblical interpretation and preaching.

Allen also gives special attention to looking at the Bible as a work of art. This involves giving attention to feelings and intuitions about the Bible, as well as looking at literary and artistic nuances and devices in the text itself. Key questions are important here, as well as a framework for ensuring responsible answers, and not letting emotionalism cloud good judgement.

The final chapters of the text deal with issues of authority and hermeneutics - these are separate chapters, but in many ways go together as one issue no doubt influences the other in dialectical relationship. Looking at the Bible as a canon of scripture rooted in a particular historical setting, the implications of the relationship between the timeless and the time-specific become clear. Then, drawing largely on Ricoeur as well as the approach of the hermeneutic of analogy, Allen discusses the importance of meaning as well as the difficulties of finding 'true' and 'unalterable' meanings in the text, not subject to interpretation.

Allen includes a compendium of the key questions gleaned from the chapters, a section of endnotes, and an index of scriptural quotations. As a reader, I prefer footnotes to endnotes (this is often a publisher decision rather than an author decision), and I will also issue the loud call for an index (subject, author, key word and concept), which this text lacks, which makes it less useful for scholars.

Overall, this book is a fine collection of ideas and questions for students and active preachers to help develop sensitivity to the various issues involved in interpreting Biblical passages for preaching.