Introduction
Citing the Bible in Chicago style is a standard process that requires a combination of both in-text and bibliographic citations. It involves citing not only the Bible itself, but also other related sources. Learning how to cite the Bible in Chicago is a great way to demonstrate respect for the original source material. This article will provide an overview of the basic principles for citing the Bible in Chicago style – including both in-text and bibliographic citations – as well as how to cite related sources.
In-Text Citation Strategies
When citing the Bible in Chicago in-text, you should include the book name, chapter number, and verse number. For example “John 3:16.” Within the text of the paper, the Bible can be cited without the full bibliographic information of the book. If you cite the Bible more than once, use an abbreviated form of the book name, followed by the chapter and verse – for example “John 3:16.”
In addition to the in-text citation of the Bible, you may also need to cite related sources. These may include commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other works of Biblical criticism. For these sources, use the author’s last name, followed by the year of publication in parentheses – for example (Smith, 2003). It is also important to include page numbers when citing non-Biblical works.
Bibliographic Citation Strategies
In addition to the in-text citation of the Bible and related sources, you should also include a bibliographic entry in a Reference list or Works Cited page. The bibliographic citation of the Bible follows a particular format in Chicago style. For example, the bibliographic citation of the book of John should be as follows:
John. New Testament. Authorized Version. Bible. Ed. Robert Carroll and Stephen Prickett. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
For related sources, the bibliographic entry should include the author’s last name, book title, place of publication, publisher, and year of publication. For example:
Smith, Mark. The Bible and Feminist Hermeneutics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Using Abbreviations
In addition to the in-text and bibliographic citations, it is important to understand the conventions for using abbreviations in Chicago style. For example, the books of the Bible should be abbreviated as follows: Gen (Genesis), Exod (Exodus), Lev (Leviticus), Num (Numbers), Deut (Deuteronomy), and so on.
When citing related sources, conventions vary depending on where the source is published. When citing a source published in the United States, use the abbreviation “U.S.”; when citing a source published in the United Kingdom, use the abbreviation “U.K.”; and so on.
Using Quotations
When quoting from the Bible, you should use quotation marks, followed by a cite tag. For example, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). When quoting from related sources, use quotation marks, followed by the author’s last name and page number. For example, “The Bible is the foundation for feminist interpretations of patriarchy” (Smith, 5).
Citing Specific Verses
When citing specific verses from the Bible, use the book name and chapter number, followed by a colon and the verse number. For example, John 3:16 (John 3:16). When citing sources that refer to specific verses, use the full bibliographic information of the source, followed by a cite tag. For example, Smith argues that “God’s love is seen most clearly in John 3:16” (Smith, 5).
Conclusion
In summary, citing the Bible in Chicago style involves both in-text and bibliographic citations. In-text citations should include the book name, chapter number, and verse number; while bibliographic entries should follow a particular format. It is also important to understand the conventions for using abbreviations and quoting verses. By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that your citations for the Bible and related sources are properly formatted and appropriate for use in an academic paper.
