The Chicago/Turabian
style as outlined in the The SBL Handbook of Style: for Ancient Near
Eastern, Biblical and Early Christian Studies by Patrick H. Alexander, et
al., eds. is to be used. Two copies are on reserve in the Library. Further help
can
be
received
from
their
website.
(SBL
Handbook of Style Student Supplement)
Where there is
uncertainty over the format that should be used in a particular case the rule
is to always be consistent throughout your paper.
ABBREVIATIONS
Books of the Bible cited without chapter or chapter and verse should be spelled out in the main text. Books of the Bible cited with chapter or chapter and verse should be abbreviated, unless they come at the beginning of the sentence. All occurrences of biblical books in parentheses and footnotes should be abbreviated.
Right The passage in 1 Cor 5 is often considered crucial.
The passage in, 1 Cor 5:6, is often considered crucial.
First Corinthians 5:6 is a crucial text.
“Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” (1 Cor 5:6 NRSV).
Wrong 1 Cor 5:6 is a crucual text.
1 Corinthians is a crucual text.
The passage in 1 Cor. 5 is often considered crucial.
For a full list of all abbreviations used in Biblical Studies see Alexander, SBL Handbook of Style, 69–152. Included are Dead Sea Scrolls, Ancient Papyri, Near Eastern Text, Apostolic Fathers, Classical and Ancient Christian Writers, Latin Books, Secondary sources including journals, periodical, major reference works and series. Judean Desert Abbreviations are recorded in Appendix F (p. 176–233). Greek and Latin works and their abbreviations were recorded on page 237–263. Some of the common abbreviations of Biblical books are recorded below. Notice that most abbreviations do not have any periods following them:
NIV New International Version
KJV King James Version
NASB New American Standard Version
HB Hebrew Bible
LXX Septuagint
Vulg. Vulgate
Q Qumran
comm(s). commentary,
commentaries
trans. Translator, translated by
v./vv. verse/verses
OT Old Testament
Gen Genesis
Exod Exodus
Lev Leviticus
Num Numbers
Deut Deuteronomy
Josh Joshua
Judg Judges
Ruth Ruth
1–2 Sam 1–2 Samuel
1–2 Kgdms 1–2 Kingdoms LXX
1–2 Kgs 1–2 Kings
1–3 Kgdms 3–4 Kingdoms LXX
1–2 Chr 1–2 Chronicles
Ezra Ezra
Neh Nehemiah
Esth Esther
Job Job
Ps/Pss Psalms
Prov Proverbs
Eccl (or Qoh) Ecclesiastes (or Qoheleth)
Song or (Cant) Song of Songs (Song of Solomon, or Canticles)
Isa Isaiah
Jer Jeremiah
Lam Lamentations
Ezek Ezekiel
Dan Daniel
Hos Hosea
Joel Joel
Amos Amos
Obad Obadiah
Jonah Jonah
Mic Micah
Nah Nahum
Hab Habakkuk
Zeph Zephaniah
Hag Haggai
Zech Zechariah
Mal Malachi
NT New Testament
Matt Matthew
Mark Mark
Luke Luke
John John
Acts Acts
Rom Romans
1–2 Cor 1–2 Corinthians
Gal Galatians
Eph Ephesians
Phil Philippians
Col Colossians
1–2 Thess 1–2 Thessalonians
1–2 Tim 1–2 Timothy
Titus Titus
Phlm Philemon
Heb Hebrews
Jas James
1–2 Pet 1–2 Peter
1–2–3 John 1–2–3 John
Jude Jude
Rev Revelation