Contemporary Biblical Interpretation for Preaching

by Ronald J. Allen

The pressures of today’s church life with its added demands on the minister’s time often leave few hours for sermon preparation or for searching deeply into a biblical text. To overcome this obstacle, Allen suggests a disciplined, informed approach that utilizes the insights of critical exegesis but that is simple enough to be practiced weekly. Each chapter offers a clear, simplified explanation of one form of biblical interpretation. Allen discusses the pertinence of the discipline to preaching, formulates key questions from its viewpoint, illustrates with a case study how the discipline may inform preaching, and provides suggestions for further reading. His methods open the door to fresh biblical interpretations that will speak forcefully to the vital concerns of the congregation.

Topics covered

•Historical how to get the feel of the world in which the text came to life and to which it speaks.

• Word how to infuse flesh-and-blood meaning into ancient biblical texts.

• Redaction ways in which the meaning of an individual text can shed light on the whole work.

• how this discipline can enlarge understanding as it moves both preacher and congregation from one thought to another.

• Sociological its significance in relating the sermon to different social perspectives.

• Liberation how it can help preachers to focus on previously unnoticed dimensions of the biblical text.

• Interpreting a biblical text as a work of art.

• Canonical its contemporary significance.

• how to make the transition from ancient to contemporary meaning.

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1984

About the author

Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Allen, is Professor of Preaching and Gospels and Letters at Christian Theological Seminary (CTU) in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

A native of Poplar Bluff Missouri and ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Allen has taught at CTU since 1982. He received his PhD from Drew University (1977), MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York (1974), and the AB from Phillips University (1971). From 1977 to 1982 he and his spouse, the Reverend Linda McKiernan-Allen, were co-ministers of First Christian Church, Grand Island, Nebraska. Rev. McKiernan-Allen is currently Minister at West Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tipton, Indiana.

In addition to over 100 articles and chapters in books, Allen is the author of more than thirty books.