How to Cite the Bible:

APA Style
MLA Style
Turabian Style
Chicago Style

How to Cite the Bible: APA¹

 Parenthetical References

•  Identify in the first citation in the text the version you used.
  
  Example:  (2 Cor. 5:17 New International Version)
   

•  You do not need to identify the version in subsequent references unless you switch to a different version.

 References

According to the APA Publication Manual, reference entries are not needed for the Bible and other major classical works.  However, your professor may require full publication information; if you are not sure, ask him/her.

 ¹Information taken from Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5^th ed., 2001, section 3.100.

How to Cite the Bible: MLA¹

General Guidelines:  Books and versions of the Bible are not underlined,  italicized, or put in quotation marks.  But the titles of individual published editions of the Bible are underlined or italicized.

Example:  The King James Version of the Bible was originally published in 1611. 

Example:  The NIV Study Bible includes an introduction to each book of the Bible.

 Parenthetical References

• In parenthetical references, the titles of the books of the Bible are often abbreviated.  Click here to see the list of common abbreviations for books of the Bible found in the MLA Handbook.

      Example:  (2 Cor. 5.17)                       

• A period separates chapter and verse.
   

• The first time you refer to a particular version of the Bible, include the name of the version, followed by a comma.
  
    Example:  (New International Version, Gen. 3.15)
   

• You do not need to identify the version in subsequent references unless you switch to a different version.

 Works Cited

In your Works Cited, include the title of the Bible, the version, and the publication information.

Example:  The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version.
                                         Philadelphia: Westminster, 1952. 

           Example:  The Modern Reader's Bible.  Richard G. Moulton,
                                       editor.  New York: Macmillan, 1918.

¹Information taken from MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6^th ed., 2003, sections 6.4.8 and 7.7.1.

How to Cite the Bible: Turabian¹

General Guidelines:  When you refer to whole chapters/whole books of the Bible or the Apocrypha in the text of your paper, spell out the names of the books; do not italicize or underline them.

Example:  2 Samuel 12 records the prophet Nathan’s confrontation of King David.

Example:  The identity of the author of the book of Hebrews is not certain.

Cite the Bible in footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical notes.  You do not need to include the Bible in your bibliography.

When you are citing a particular passage of Scripture, include the abbreviated name of the book, the chapter number, and the verse number—never a page number.  Chapter and verse are separated by a colon.

          Example:  1 Cor. 13:4, 15:12-19.

Example:  Gn 1:1-2, 2:1-3; Jn 1:1-14

Note that Turabian includes two lists of abbreviations for books of the Bible: a traditional abbreviation list and a shorter abbreviation list.  Click here to see the lists of abbreviations.  You may use either list, but be consistent throughout your paper.  Or if you like, you may check with your professor to see which form s/he prefers.
 

Include the name of the version you are citing.  You may either spell out the name of the version, at least in the first reference, or you may use abbreviations without preceding or internal punctuation.  After the first citation you need to indicate the version only if you quote from another version. 

^1. Information taken from A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7^th ed., 2007, sections 17.5.2 and 24.6.1-4. 

Note:  A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, edited by Kate L. Turabian, is an abbreviated version of The Chicago Manual of Style.  

How to Cite the Bible: Chicago¹

General Guidelines:  Names of the books of the Bible are not italicized.  Names and versions of the Hebrew and Christian bibles are capitalized but not italicized.   Do not abbreviate books of the Bible in the text of your paper.

Example:  2 Samuel 12 records the prophet Nathan’s confrontation of King David.

Example:  The identity of the author of the book of Hebrews is not certain.

Cite the Bible in footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical notes.  You do not need to include the Bible in your bibliography.

When you are citing a particular passage of Scripture, include the abbreviated name of the book, the chapter number, and the verse number—never a page number.  Chapter and verse are separated by a colon.

          Example:  1 Cor. 13:4, 15:12-19.

          Example:  Gn 1:1-2, 2:1-3; Jn 1:1-14
 

Chicago Style includes two lists of abbreviations for books of the Bible: a traditional abbreviation list and a shorter abbreviation list.  Click here to see the lists of abbreviations.  You may use either list, but be consistent throughout your paper.  Or if you like, you may check with your professor to see which form s/he prefers.
 

Include the name of the version of the Bible you are citing.  You may either spell out the name of the version, at least in the first reference, or you may use abbreviations without preceding or internal punctuation.  After the first citation you need to indicate the version only if you quote from another version. 

 ¹Information taken from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15^th ed., 2003, sections 15.48 – 15.54 and 8.111 – 8.115.

Updated:  02/02/2009 ©Henry Buhl Library Grove City College 2008-2009