This guidebook offers a treatise on the ancient and modern meanings of the Bible. James A. Sanders begins by explaining how canonical criticism arose and the needs it was designed to meet. He then explains what is meant by "canonical process" and why this phrase is used to understand canonization. He proceeds to describe the principles of interpretation used by biblical writers when they alluded to or cited authoritative traditions or texts. Sanders programmatically outlines some of the tasks yet to be addressed by the method and concludes by suggesting how the same principles of interpretation used by the biblical writers can be used, or slightly modified for use, in believing communities today. This volume also serves as a guide to the rich bibliography of recent canonical-critical studies.