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How to Cite the Bible:
APA Style
MLA Style
Turabian Style
Chicago Style
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, 5th ed., 2001, section 3.100.
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, 6th 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.
| Examples of parenthetical reference: | Examples of footnote or endnote: |
| (Gen. 12:1-3 Revised Standard Version) | 1.Ps. 139:13-16 NAB |
| (Jn 3:16-17 RSV) | 2. Eph 6:10-17 |
1. Information taken from A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th 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.
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Examples of parenthetical reference: |
Examples of footnote or endnote: |
|
(Gen. 12:1-3 Revised Standard Version) |
1.Ps. 139:13-16 NAB |
|
(Jn 3:16-17 RSV) |
2. Eph 6:10-17 |
1Information taken from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003, sections 15.48 – 15.54 and 8.111 – 8.115.
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Updated:
02/02/2009 ©Henry Buhl Library Grove City College 2008-2009 |
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