How To Quote The Bible In APA
Knowing how to accurately cite the Bible is essential for anyone engaging in academic research or writing. APA (American Psychological Association) is the accepted format for citing the Bible, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of its references. This article will guide you on the basics of citing the Bible according to the latest APA guidelines.
When the Bible is the source of your research information, include it in the reference list, rather than in the text of your paper. The full title of the Bible, followed by the edition you used, should be listed in the reference list, such as: Bible, (King James Version).
Including the section and version of the Bible you are referring to is very important. For example, when citing from the King James Version, you would write 2 Samuel 5:18 (KJV). When citing a source from the Bible, you can follow the same general format for citing print sources. In the text of your paper, include the full chapter and verse, such as: “(2 Samuel 5:18).” You may also include the title of the book and abbreviated version of the book if desired, such as: “(2 Samuel 5:18, New International Version).”
If you are quoting from a source other than the Bible, such as commentaries or other books, cite it as you would any other book. If you are citing more than one book, use chronological order, beginning with the earliest work. For example: (Robbins, 1999; Stoner, 2005).
When referring to a specific passage or group of verses, use the abbreviation “passim�� which means “here and there” in Latin. For example, if you are referring to several passages, you could write: “Verses (Luke 1:1-25 passim).” This indicates that you are referring to several passages.
When referring to multiple books, the “passim” term is used to indicate that the source is a compilation of books. For example, if you are referring to the full Bible, you could write: “Verses (Bible passim).”
When citing a particular verse, whether in the text of your paper or in the reference list, note that the chapter and verse are separated by a colon, not a period. For example: (Luke 1:36-37). The same applies when citing page numbers in your paper or source list.
References In-text And In The Reference List
When citing the Bible in the text of your paper, use the same format that you would use when citing any other source. The in-text citation will include the name of the book and chapter and verse numbers, such as: (Goldstein, 2000, Luke 1:36-37). Note that the author’s name is not included in the in-text citation when citing the Bible, as it is assumed that the reader knows the author.
When creating a reference list entry for a Bible source, it should include the full title of the Bible, followed by the edition used. For example: Bible, (King James Version). You may also include the publication year, publisher and page numbers if available.
If the Bible source you used was a translation of the Bible, such as the New International Version, you should include the translator’s name in the reference list entry. For example: Bible, (New International Version, Translated by NIV Translators). You may also include the publication year and/or publisher in the entry as well.
If you are citing a specific verse in the Bible, you should include the chapter and verse numbers in the reference list entry. For example: Bible, (2 Samuel 5:18). Note that the chapter and verse numbers are not separated by a period in the reference list entry.
Citing Bible Commentaries
If you are using Bible commentaries, you should cite it as you would any other source. The reference list entry should include the full title, author, edition and publication year. The in-text citation should include the author and year.
If you are citing specific passages within the commentary, you should include the page number and the chapter and verse numbers in the in-text citation, such as: (Goldstein, 2000, p. 33, Luke 1:36-37).
Using Quotes From The Bible
When quoting from the Bible, it is important to provide a precise citation, including the chapter and verse numbers, as well as the version of the Bible. When quoting more than one verse, you should include the range of verses, separated by a hyphen. For example, when quoting from the King James Version, you would write: “(2 Samuel 5:18-20, KJV).”
You may also include a translation of the quote in your paper as long as you attribute the source. For example: “David became king of Israel (2 Samuel 5:18-20, KJV). As the Lord told Samuel when the Israelites first asked for a king, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (2 Samuel 5:18-20, NIV).”
Quoting the Bible should be done carefully and with precision. Be sure to provide the full and correct title of the Bible version in the reference list and include the chapter and verse numbers in the in-text citation.
Using Bible References In Footnotes
If you need to include a Bible reference in a footnote, use the same format as you would for any other reference, including the chapter and verse numbers. For example: 1. Bible, (1 Samuel 1:1-9, KJV). Be sure to include the version of the Bible you are citing, as well as the page number, if available.
When citing multiple sources in the same footnote, use an asterisk (*) to separate them. For example: 1. Bible, (Acts 1:9-11, KJV)*Benson, (2015, p. 15). Be sure to include the author and year in the footnote as well.
Guidance For Publishing
When publishing references to the Bible, it is important to follow the guidelines set by the publisher. For example, some publishers prefer that the chapter and verse numbers be included in the text of the paper, rather than in the reference list. Additionally, some publishers will prefer the use of certain Bible versions, such as the King James Version, rather than other versions.
Be aware that some publishers have their own specific style for citing the Bible. If you are unsure of a publisher’s preferred style, be sure to check their official website or contact them directly.
Other Considerations
It is important to remember that some Bible translations do not contain the same wording. Therefore, be sure to use the same translation throughout your paper. Additionally, be aware of the fact that some Bible translations, such as the King James Version, are considered more authoritative than others. Therefore, be sure to use an authoritative version of the Bible whenever possible.
Be aware that some Bible passages may be subject to different interpretations. Therefore, if you are citing a particular passage, be sure to include the interpretation in your paper, as well as your source. This will help the reader to understand your viewpoint and make it easier to verify the accuracy of your citation.
Conclusion
When researching or writing academically, it is important to be aware of the accepted guidelines for citing the Bible. Following the guidelines will ensure that your citations are accurate and will provide your reader with the necessary information to verify the source. Furthermore, by following the cited guidelines for publishing, you will increase the chances of your work being accepted by the publisher.
