Bible Citations 1

David Battle

Battle Educational Ministry Enterprise

June 27, 2013

Bible Citations

When quoting from a Bible, the scholar needs to know what he is quoting. He may be

quoting a particular verse, a particular translation of the verse, or a particular comment in a study

Bible.

When citing a particular verse of the Bible, the scholar just needs to give the address of

the verse using the appropriate abbreviation for the book. For example, the Gospels teach that

Jesus came to save the lost (Matt. 18:11; Luke 19:10). Use the MLA abbreviations for the books

of the Bible. When citing a chapter or chapters, use the full name of the book (Philippians 3).

When quoting a verse, the scholar should specify the translation of the quote. If only one

translation is being used, then the writer may simply identify the translation at the beginning of

the Works Cited section (See “Work Cited” page below). In the body of the paper, only the

address of the verse needs to be cited. For example, if one were only quoting the King James

Version, a Biblical quotation would look like the following: “For God so loved the world, that

he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have

everlasting life” (John 3:16). Then one would state at the top of the “Work Cited” page, that all

Biblical citations are from the King James Version.

Note that with translations or versions, one does not have to give a full Work Cited entry.

This is because versions are published in multiple formats, but the reader only needs a copy of

the translation in order to check the quote or context. The one piece of information that does

need to be included is the “year of translation or revision.” For example, the New International

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translation was originally completed in 1984 and a major revision was published in 2011.

Therefore the entry needs to distinguish between the two by appending the year to the name of

the translation: “New International Version, 1984," or “New International Version, 2011."

If more than one translation is used, then the primary translation must be indicated at the

beginning of the Works Cited section followed by a list of the other translations and their

acronyms. Every Biblical quote must be preceded by the acronym of the translation, unless it is

the primary translation. If the primary translation is from the King James Version, it would look

like the following: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). A quote in

the same paper from a secondary translation such as the New Revised Standard Version would

read as follows: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who

believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (NRSV, John 3:16 ).

Notes in study Bibles are not part of a Biblical text and were written by modern scholars.

On the whole, instructors should discourage students from using these notes for two reasons.

First, this material is hard to document. Second, these are usually very brief comments and the

diligent student should be able find similar comments that are more fully developed in other

works such as commentaries. If the student cites a note, she must distinguish text notes from

essays. Text notes are usually placed at the bottom of the page under the Biblical translation.

The student should cite the author or the editor along with the verse address for the page number.

When citing an editor of a study Bible the name of the Biblical book must be included (Beers,

John 3:16). If the particular contributor is known then cite him (Morris 3:16), and included his

work among the cited works. In the Works Cited section, one lists the text notes and essays as

signed articles from a reference work. When citing the various essays in a study Bible, one

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should cite it as an article from a reference work using the page number instead of the verse

address (Morris 1591). If the contributor is not known, then cite the essay as an unsigned article

(“Nicodemus”).

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Summary

1. Identify the versions used at the top of the Works Cited page.

a. Names of translations are not titles of books; therefore, do not underline them.

b. Identify the translations and their acronyms.

c. Include the “year of translation” or revision.

2. When citing a verse or Biblical passage give its address.

a. When citing specific verses, abbreviate the name of the Biblical book according to the

MLA style guide, 7 edition.th

b. When citing whole chapters, spell out the name of the Biblical book.

c. When quoting a verse, the translation must be identified.

i. If only one translation is used, then its identification in the Works Cited portion of

the paper satisfies the need for documentation.

ii. If more than one translation is used then each version must be named along with

the appropriate acronyms.

3. When citing a note within a study Bible, credit the appropriate authors or editors along

the full title of the study Bible which includes the name of the version.

a. If the note comments on specified verses, then use the address of the verses in the

citation.

b. The study Bible must be fully documented in Works Cited.

i. The title of the Study Bible includes the name of the translation.

ii. The citation should be as specific as possible. If the contributor for the specific

note is known, the contributor’s work s should be listed among the cited works.

iii. If the specific contributor is unknown, then cite the general editor of the study

Bible.

4. When citing an essay in a study Bible, cite it as an article within a reference work.

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Works Cited

All Biblical quotations are from the King James Version, 1611.

or

All Biblical quotations are from the King James Version, 1611, unless stated otherwise. Other

versions used are the New International Version, 1984, (NIV), New American Standard

Version, 1999, (NASV), and New Revised Standard Version, 1989, (NRSV).

Beers, Ronald A., gen. ed. Life Application Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Iowa Falls:

Word, 1990. Print.

Morris, Leon. “John.” The New NIV Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 1985. 1591-1639. Print.

“Nicodemus.” Life Application Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Iowa Falls: Word, 1990.

1825. Print.