A word on the contents of the book. Part I introduces several fundamental methodological principles of discourse analysis. Here the contribution of J. P. Louw, “Reading a Text as Discourse,” is foundational and should be read prior to the other essays in the book. It is fitting that the opening essay should have been contributed by Professor Louw, whose classic 1973 article in The Bible Translator entitled “Discourse Analysis and the Greek New Testament” set the stage for much of the subsequent discussion.