Overview Of Turabian Citations
Turabian citations are a specific form of citation format that is commonly used when citing material from the Bible. This form of citation is defined by Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. In Turabian style, all references to the Bible must include a parenthetical reference, full reference in a footnote or an endnote, and an abbreviated in-text citation. This article will provide an overview of Turabian style referencing for Biblical texts and then elaborate on how to accurately include Biblical references using Turabian style.
Abbreviated In-Text Citations
The abbreviated in-text citation is the most basic form of Turabian citing found when referencing Biblical material. This citation should appear whenever a quote or paraphrase is used from the Bible in the body of the text. The in-text citation should appear at the end of the quote and should cite the book, chapter, and verse (or verses) of the Bible being referenced. If a quote or paraphrase is used from more than one chapter and verse, they should both be included in the citation. An example of an in-text citation might look like this:
“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)
Full Footnote or Endnote Citation
After the in-text citation appears, a corresponding full footnote or endnote should follow. The full, corresponding citation should appear at the bottom of the page (as a footnote) or at the end of the paper or chapter (as an endnote). This citation should include all of the information found in the in-text citation, as well as additional information such as the publication information for the Bible being referenced, and any other associated information that may be useful. A full footnote or endnote could look like this:
1. The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1982 ed. John 3:16.
Parenthetical Citations
Turabian citations also require the use of parenthetical citations. This type of citation should appear in the body of the text when discussing the text, rather than quoting it. The parenthetical citation should refer to the relevant footnote or endnote, and should include the page number, if applicable. The parenthetical citation should follow this format: (see footnote or endnote number). An example of a parenthetical citation might look like this:
John 3:16 states that “God so loved the world” (see footnote 1).
Details To Include In Turabian Citations
When citing the Bible using Turabian style, there are a few pieces of information that should be included in the reference. The most important piece of information is the title of the Bible being referenced. The most common Bible version to reference using Turabian is the King James Version, but there are others available as well. In addition to the title of the Bible, it is important to include the publication date of the version being used, as different versions may have subtle differences that may be important.
When discussing a specific chapter and verse, it is important to include the book, chapter, and verse, as well as any additional verses if applicable. If a page number is needed, such as when citing a commentary book, it should be included as well. Finally, it is important to note if any other publications or books are being referenced (such as a commentary book), as they should be fully referenced in the footnote or endnote.
References To Biblical Commentaries
When referencing material from Biblical commentaries, it is important to note that this material will be referenced differently than the Bible. In Turabian style, commentary material should be cited in the same way as other material, with a corresponding in-text citation, parenthetical citation, and full footnote or endnote. In the footnote or endnote, it is important to include the author, title of book, date, and page number of the commentary. A sample footnote or endnote could look like this:
2. Mark T. Barclay, Mark’s Commentary on John, (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1996), 25- 27.
Reference List
At the end of the paper or project, a reference list should be included that includes all of the sources that have been cited in the text. For Biblical sources, this reference list should include the title of the Bible, publication date, and edition (if applicable). For commentary sources, the reference list should include the author, title of book, date, publisher, and edition. An example of a Biblical reference list or bibliography might look like this:
The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1982 ed.
Barclay, Mark T. Mark’s Commentary on John. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1996.
Conclusion
Turabian style is a popular form of referencing and is often used when citing material from the Bible. Turabian style referencing includes the use of in-text citations, parenthetical citations, full footnotes or endnotes, and references and bibliographies. When citing the Bible, information such as the title, publication date, and edition should be included, as well as the book, chapter, and verse being referenced. When citing commentary material, the details of the author, title, date, publisher, and edition should be included. By following this guide, it is possible to accurately cite the Bible and commentary material using Turabian style.
