How to cite the Bible

As a source of knowledge and inspiration, the Bible has been used extensively throughout history by scholars, theologians, and writers. When referencing biblical texts, it is essential to know how to cite the Bible correctly. Here’s a guide on how to cite the Bible in different formats. The first thing to consider when citing the Bible is the version. The Bible exists in various , including the King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), American Standard Version (ASV), and many more. You need to select the appropriate version as they may have variations in wording or chapter and verse numbers. When citing the Bible in MLA style, include the title of the version in italics, followed by the abbreviation of the biblical book, chapter, and verse. For example, the citation for John 3:16 in the NIV Bible would be: Holy Bible: New International Version, John 3.16. In APA style, the citation format for the Bible follows the same pattern as other print sources. For instance, the citation for Genesis 1:1-3 would look like this: Bible. (n.d.). Genesis 1:1-3. In-text citation: (Bible, Genesis 1:1-3). When referencing the Bible in Chicago style, use “book, chapter and verse” format with the name of the version, as follows: John 3:16 (New International Version). When citing the Bible in Turabian style, include the version name, book, chapter, and verse. For instance, Genesis 1:1-3 (New International Version). There are rules to follow when citing specific biblical texts like the Psalms and the Wisdom literature. The book of Psalms is a collection of songs and prayers in the Old Testament that is often attributed to King David. When citing the book of Psalms, use the abbreviated form “Ps.” followed by the chapter and verse number, as seen in the example: Ps. 23:1-3 (New International Version). The Wisdom literature, which includes books like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job, contains different genres like proverbs, laments, and wisdom teachings. To reference a specific passage in Wisdom literature, include the name of the book, chapter and verse number, and the version, as seen in this example: Job 1:20-22 (New International Version). Another point to consider when citing the Bible is the inclusion of the Apocrypha, which consists of books recognized in some biblical traditions but not in others. Some versions of the Bible, such as the King James Version, contain books from the Apocrypha. If you are referencing texts from the Apocrypha, make sure to include them in the citation. When citing the Apocrypha in MLA, the citation should include the title of the version, the book name, chapter and verse, and Apocrypha chapter and verse, such as: NRSV Apocrypha, Sirach 1.1-10. In APA, the citation will look like this: Apocrypha. (n.d.). Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10. In-text citation: (Apocrypha, Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10). In Chicago, the Apocrypha citation format follows the same book, chapter, and verse format with the version name, such as Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10 (New Revised Standard Version: Apocrypha). When citing the Apocrypha in Turabian, use the same format as the other biblical texts by adding the version name, book, chapter, verse, and Apocrypha chapter and verse numbers, such as Sirach 1.1-10 (New Revised Standard Version: Apocrypha). In conclusion, the Bible is an essential source of knowledge and inspiration in various fields, including literature and theology. Knowing how to cite the Bible correctly is necessary for scholars and writers to give credit to the reference's rightful owner. By following the right citation format based on the writing style, it helps give credibility to any work that cites biblical texts.