09Nov

How To Cite A Bible Scripture In An Essay

Citing A Bible Scripture In An Essay

The Bible is a popular resource for many research papers. The three main methods of reference citation include Modern Language Association, American Psychological Association, and Chicago Style. All these styles dictate specific rules governing the use of scripture in an essay. It is important to know which style your instructor wants you to follow and be consistent throughout your essay.

The MLA Style

  1. You should know how to do your first in-text citation - The first time you cite the Bible in a paper using MLA style, you will need to list the name of the translation first, then the Bible reference. Include a comma between the two.
  2. Know how to do subsequent in-text citations. The second time you quote a passage from the same translation, you only need to give the scripture reference.
  3. Abbreviate the books of the Bible. When citing the books of the Bible, make sure to use the correct abbreviations, as outlined in the MLA handbook.
  4. Use a period to distinguish between Bible chapters and verses. While some writing manuals offer flexibility in using a period or colon, MLA format requires a period. Double-check your paper to make sure you catch all Bible references.
  5. Never underline or italicize individual books or versions of the Bible. When referring to common versions of the Bible, or specific books, there is no need to italicize, underline, or place in quotation marks.
  6. Know how to reference the Bible on the "Works Cited" page. With MLA, you will also need to reference the Bible you used on your "Works Cited" page. The reference should include the translation and/or version of the Bible you used, the author or editor's name, the publication information and whether it was a print copy or accessed online.

The APA Style

  1. With APA style, the first in-text reference to a particular scripture should include the book, chapter and verse, followed by the version of the Bible it was taken from.
  2. Know how to do subsequent in-text citations. Once you have explicitly referenced the version of the Bible used in your first citation, you do not need to keep repeating it.
  3. Use a colon or period to distinguish between Bible chapters and verses. Either punctuation mark is acceptable as long as you remain consistent.
  4. According to the APA style manual, it is usually unnecessary to provide references for the Bible, in addition to other well-known classical texts.

The Turabian Style

  1. List the scripture reference first, then the translation. With Turabian style referencing, the book, chapter and verse come first, followed, by the version of the Bible you are using. Place a comma between the two.
  2. Use a colon to distinguish between Bible chapters and verses. Though this is a typical way of referencing Scripture, some citation styles prefer periods. However, Turabian requires a colon.
  3. Stay consistent in your abbreviations. Turabian allows for two sets of abbreviations when citing books of the Bible. The first is a traditional set, the second a shorter version. Pick one and remain consistent. Consider asking your instructor to see if there is a preferred set to use.
  4. Unless your professor specifically requests it, you do not need to provide publication information for the version or versions of the Bible you use.

General Bible-Citation Guidelines

  1. Understand when to use underline and when to use italics. There are certain times when you should use underline and italics when referring to the Bible, and other times when you should refrain from doing so.
  2. Using Scripture verses in your paper does not warrant the need to cite the Bible as a source on your bibliography. However, referencing specific notes or commentary within a specific study Bible does. List specific study Bibles like other books on your works cited page. Include title, edition, publisher, location, and year.
  3. When you reference specific passages in the Bible, use the abbreviation given for the book. For example, instead of "Matthew 5:16," you would write "Matt. 5:16." Find the appropriate abbreviations for books of the Bible by using a guide provided in many Bibles or by searching online.
  4. Some traditional writing uses Roman numerals for books: II John. Instead of Roman numerals, stick to the Arabic form: 2 John.
  5. Most research papers stick with one translation of the Bible (e.g., New Living Translation, New International Version, and English Standard Version). Simply reference this in your first citation and leave it out of the others. However, if you are constantly changing from one translation to another, include the translation in every reference.