- Introduction
- Documentation of Books
- Documentation of Commentaries
- Documentation of Articles
- Documentation of Online and E-Resources
Introduction
The following contents reflect the latest style guide at https://nelson.libguides.com/styleguide.
When to Document Ideas
Ideas that are common knowledge do not need to be cited. The challenge is in knowing what is and is not common knowledge. When in doubt, cite it. It is better to have too many citations than too few. The Purdue OWL reflects the standard guideline of repetition in five or more sources as a baseline for something being in common knowledge. For further discussion of “common knowledge” and of plagiarism in general, see BibTheo.com/plagiarism.
Documentation
Footnotes are the required form of documentation (i.e., Bibliographic Method). Format footnotes according to the latest edition of A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian (16.3). Number the footnotes consecutively beginning with 1. Superscript the numbers in the footnotes or use full-sized numbers followed by a period.
Indent the first line of footnotes by ½ inch (16.3.4). Footnotes are single-spaced entries with a double-space between entries (16.3.4.1). Use the shortened form of author-title notes for repeat entries [last name, title, page number] (16.4.1).
Documentation and Abbreviations
The SBL Handbook of Style offers two extensive lists of abbreviations for journals, series, and other standard reference works. The first abbreviation list is alphabetized by source (SBLHS 8.4.1) and the second by abbreviation (SBLHS 8.4.2). See BibTheo.com/Abbreviations for abbreviations that are commonly-used by students.
Note that abbreviations are italicized if they are journal titles (e.g., JBL, JSNT, JSOT) or abbreviations based on book titles (e.g., ANET, COS) but are not italicized if they are abbreviations of book series (e.g., WGRW, JSOTSup) or abbreviations based on personal names (e.g., BAGD, BDB).
In order to use an abbreviation, spell the name in full the first time a source is cited and follow the name with the abbreviation in parenthesis. For example, “Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (ZECNT).” After the first citation you may use just the abbreviation to refer to that work. If working on a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation or project, include a “List of Abbreviations” page at the beginning of the paper (after the title page and before the main text).
In the following guide, “N:” stands for “footnote” and shows what the source should look the first time the source appears in the footnotes of a paper. “SN:” stands for “shortened footnote” and shows what the source should look like all subsequent times it appears in the footnotes, after the first time in which its full citation was given. “B:” stands for “bibliography” and shows what the source should look like in a bibliography. NB, though this website may not show it, the bibliography should use a hanging indent.
Documentation of Books
Documentation of Books
The citation of books (17.1) varies due to the wide variety of types of books and information needed to properly identify the source. For example, style changes if a book has one author, multiple authors, or an editor. It changes if the book is part of a series or single chapter in a compiled work. The basic format for a book includes author, title, city of publication, publisher, date of publication, and page cited. For the examples below and all other examples, “N” is for Footnote, “SN” is for Shortened Footnote, and “B” for Bibliography.
Regardless of how this webpage renders the format, the first line of footnotes should be indented by ½ inch. Entries in the bibliography should be justified all the way to the left and then formatted with a hanging indent. Bibliographic entries are single-spaced within entries, with an extra space between entries.
N: 1. Michael F. Bird, What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostles’ Creed (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 179.
SN: 2. Bird, Ought, 179.
B: Bird, Michael F. What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostles’ Creed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.
Documentation of a Book with Two Authors
N: 1. James M. Robinson and Helmet Koester, Trajectories through Early Christianity (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971), 237.
SN: 2. Robinson and Koester, Trajectories, 237.
B: Robinson, James M., and Helmut Koester. Trajectories through Early Christianity. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971.
Documentation of a Book with an Editor
N: 1. Mark Chavalas, ed., Women in the Ancient Near East (New York: Routledge, 2014), 70.
SN: 2. Chavalas, ed. Women, 70.
B: Chavalas, Mark W., ed. Women in the Ancient Near East. New York: Routledge, 2014.
Documentation of eBooks
Electronic Books (eBooks) are digital versions of books that are read in a browser or in an app. Cite electronic books just like their printed counterparts. The publication information should be for the original book publisher and not for the software that has provided access to it. If you read the book in on a library or commercial database, give the name of the database but not the URL (AdobePDF eBook, Proquest Ebrary, Google Books). If read in an app, specify the app (Kindle, iBooks, Logos, Accordance).
If no page number is available, then find and cite the corresponding page number in a hardcopy of the book. If that is not forthcoming, do not cite an app-specific location number or designation but instead cite the chapter and nearest section number, or the chapter and nearest section title.
N: 1. Joseph P. Quinlan, Last Economic Superpower: The Retreat of Globalization, the End of American Dominance, and What We Can Do About It (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010), 211. ProQuest Ebrary.
SN: 2. Quinlan, Last Economic Superpower, 211.
B: Quinlan, Joseph P. Last Economic Superpower: The Retreat of Globalization, the End of American Dominance, and What We Can Do About It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. ProQuest Ebrary.
N: 1. Thomas Schreiner, Forty Questions About Christians and Biblical Law, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2010), 33. Logos.
SN: 2. Schreiner, Forty Questions, 33.
B: Schreiner, Thomas. Forty Questions About Christians and Biblical Law. Edited by Benjamin L. Merkle. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2010. Logos.
N: 1. Bruce W. Winter, Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003), “Chapter 5: What was Proper in Roman Corinth?” Kindle.
SN: 2. Winter, Roman Wives, ”Chapter 5: What was Proper in Roman Corinth?,” “Chapter 5: What was Proper in Roman Corinth?” Kindle.
B: Winter, Bruce W. Roman Wives, Roman Widows: The Appearance of New Women and the Pauline Communities. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003. Kindle.
Documentation of Commentaries
Independent Commentary
N: 1. Harold Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002), 12.
SN: 3. Hoehner, Ephesians, 29.
B: Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002.
Commentary in a Series
Commentaries require the full information of the author, volume title, series title, editor, volume number, and publishing information (17.1.8.2). Many reference works such as commentaries, lexicons, biblical and theological dictionaries have approved abbreviations. If you are unsure of the abbreviation you can spell out the entire series name.
N: 1. Lynn H. Cohick, The Letter to the Ephesians, New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020), 73.
SN: 2. Cohick, Ephesians, NICNT, 73.
B: Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020.
Numbered Commentary in a Series
Some commentary series use numbers for their volumes while others do not. If there is a volume number in a commentary series, include it after the series name but do not include the words “volume” or “number.” If the series divides the number further, as in the second example (below), include the subdivisions.
N: 1. Gerald L. Keown, Pamela J. Scalise, and Thomas G. Smothers, Jeremiah 26-52, Word 27. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 82.
SN: 15. Keown, Scalise, and Smothers, Jeremiah, 96.
B: Keown, Gerald L., Pamela J. Scalise, and Thomas G. Smothers. Jeremiah 26-52. Word 27. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.
N: 1. Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1-13, Word 33A. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), 12.
SN: 15. Hagner, Matthew 1-13, 26.
B: Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 1-13. Word 33A. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.
A Chapter within a Single Volume
Some commentaries combine treatment of multiple books of the Bible into a single volume. Each chapter is usually written by a different author, so make sure to start by crediting the author of the individual chapter that informs your writing. The editor has her or his own place later on in the citation.
N: 1. Paul John Isaak, “Luke,” in Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 1210.
SN: Isaak, “Luke,” 1215.
B: Isaak, Paul John. “Luke.” Pages 1203-1250 in Africa Bible Commentary. Edited by Tokunboh Adeyemo. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
A Chapter within a Volume within a Multivolume Work
Some commentaries combine treatment of multiple books of the Bible into more than one volume but fewer than the 66 volumes it would take to give each biblical book its own volume. Each chapter is usually written by a different author, so make sure to start by crediting the author of the individual chapter that informs your writing. The editor has her or his own place later on in the citation. Also clarify the volume number in addition to the page number, separating them by a colon (:).
N: 1. Laurence M. Wills, New Interpreter’s Bible (NIB) 3:1154.
SN: 2. Wills, NIB 3:1154.
B: Wills, Lawrence M. “Judith.” In 1 & 2 Kings; 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Tobit, Judith. Vol. 3 of New Interpreter’s Bible, edited by Leander E. Keck, 1074-183. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.
N: 1. Walter L. Liefeld and David W. Pao, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised (REBC) 10:25.
SN: 2. Liefeld and Pao, REBC 10:33.
B: Liefeld, Walter L. and David W. Pao. “Luke.” In Luke-Acts. Vol. 10 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Rev. ed. (REBC). Edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, 19-356. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
Documentation of Articles
Article in a Journal
Journal names should be spelled out in full the first time they are cited. If you want to use their official abbreviations, (See the “Journal Abbreviations” list in this guide for examples of common journals in our discipline), put the abbreviation in parentheses following the title spelled out in full. You may user just the abbreviation after this first citation. For example, “Journal of Biblical Literature (JBL)”.
Since some journals continue to paginate in sequence across issues in a volume while others do not, include the issue number in your citation when possible. For example, JBL volume 109 issue 1 should be cited as JBL 109.1 or JBL 109 no. 1.Do not include the month or season unless that is the only way the publisher distinguishes issues from each other.
Cite journals articles by including the author, article title in quotation marks, italicized journal name, volume number, issue number, year in parentheses, and page number.
N: 1. Paul Achtemeier, “Omne Verbum Sonat: The New Testament and the Oral Environment of Late Western Antiquity,” JBL 109.1 (1990): 16.
SN: 3. Achtemeier, “Verbum,” 16.
B: Achtemeier, Paul. “Omne Verbum Sonat: The New Testament and the Oral Environment of Late Western Antiquity.” Journal of Biblical Literature 109.1 (1990): 3-27.
N: 1. Steven M. Fettke and Michael L. Dusing, “A Practical Pentecostal Theodicy?” Pneuma 38.2 (2016): 169.
SN: 3. Fettke and Dusing, “Practical,” 169.
B: Fettke, Steven M. and Michael L. Dusing. “A Practical Pentecostal Theodicy?” Pneuma 38.2 (2016): 160–179.
Article in an eJournal
For our purposes, electronic journals are journals that are read online in a browser or app, whether or not there is a print counterpart to that journal. Cite electronic journals like a print counterpart by including the author, article title, italicized journal name, volume, issue, year, and page number. The only difference from citing a print journal and an eJournal is the inclusion of a DOI or URL. If the article has a DOI (preferred) or URL, include it in the first footnotes and in the bibliography.
N: 1. Beverly Roberts Gaventa, “Places of Power in Paul’s Letter to the Romans,” Interpretation 76.4 (2022): 294, doi:10.1177/00209643221108179.
SN: Gaventa, “Power,” 300.
B: Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. “Places of Power in Paul’s Letter to the Romans.” Interpretation 76.4 (2022): 293-302. doi:10.1177/00209643221108179.
N: 4. H. Wayne Johnson, “Practicing Theology on a Sunday Morning: Corporate Worship as Spiritual Formation, Trinity Journal 31.1 (2010): 28, http://www.academia.edu/7444520..
SN: 7. Johnson, “Practicing,” 28.
B: Johnson, H. Wayne. “Practicing Theology on a Sunday Morning Corporate Worship as Spiritual Formation.” Trinity Journal 31.1 (2010): 27–44. http://www.academia.edu/7444520.
Article in an Edited Volume (e.g., essay collection, festschrift)
N: 1. Richard Bauckham, “Relevance of Extra-canonical Jewish Texts to New Testament Study,” in Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation, ed. Joel B. Green, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010), 68.
SN: 2. Bauckham, “Relevance,” 68.
B: Bauckham, Richard. “Relevance of Extra-canonical Jewish Texts to New Testament Study.” In Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation, 2nd ed. Edited by Joel B. Green, 65–84. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010.
Article in a Dictionary or Encyclopedia
The disciplines of Biblical and Theological Studies use the terms “Dictionary” and “Encyclopedia” interchangeably. What the public typically thinks of a “Dictionary,” that is, word lists and their definitions such as in Merriam-Webster, OED, Urban Dictionary, is called a “Lexicon” by the academy. When citing dictionaries and encyclopedias, use the standard, SBL-designated abbreviation for that dictionary or encyclopedia. Otherwise, spell the full dictionary title.
N: 1. Holly Beers, “Servant of Yahweh,” Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 2nd ed. (DJG2) (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013), 856.
SN: 2. Beers, “Servant,” 726.
B: Beers, Holly. “Servant of Yahweh.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. 2nd ed. Edited by Joel B. Green, 855-859. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013.
N: 1. Stanley d. Walters, “Jacob Narrative” Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD) 3:599.
SN: 2. Walters, “Jacob Narrative” ABD 3:599.
B: Walters, Stanley D. “Jacob Narrative.” In vol. 3 of Anchor Bible Dictionary. Edited by David Noel Freedman, 359–609. 6 vols. New York, Doubleday, 1992.
Article in a Lexicon
N: 1. F. Annen, “θαυμάζω,” EDNT 2:135.
SN: 3. Annen, “θαυμάζω,” EDNT 2:135.
B: Balz, Horst and Gerhard Schneider, eds. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990–1993.
N: 1. Wilhelm Mundle, Colin Brown, and Otfried Hofius, “Miracle, Wonder, Sign,” NIDNTT 2:634.
SN: 3. Mundle, Brown, Hofius, “Miracle,” NIDNTT 2:634.
B: Brown, Colin, ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975-85.
N: 1. L&N, 1:315.
SN: 5. L&N, 1:315.
B: Louw, J. P. and E. A. Nida, eds. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. 2nd ed. 2 vols. New York: United Bible Societies, 1989.
Documentation of Online & E-Resources
Websites
Include as much identifying information as possible when citing something from a website. This includes the author of the content or the owner/sponsor of the website, the title of the webpage, and the name of the website as a whole. Do not include the date you accessed the website, but do include the latest date that the content was published or revised, if possible. Include the URL in the footnote and in the bibliography but remove the working hyperlink to the URL.
N: 5. “Statement of Faith,” Society of Evangelical Arminians. http://www.evangelicalarminians.org/statement-of-faith.
SN: 7. “Statement,” Evangelical Arminians.
B: “Statement of Faith.” Society of Evangelical Arminians. http://www.evangelicalarminians.org/statement-of-faith.
N: 1. Ben Witherington III, “N.T. Wright on Post-Modernity and the Enlightenment,” Ben Witherington. http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2009/05/nt-wright-on-post-modernity-and.html.
SN: 7. Witherington, “Post-Modernity.”
B: Witherington, Ben III. “N.T. Wright on Post-Modernity and the Enlightenment.” Ben Witherington. Accessed Sept 25, 2017. http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2009/05/nt-wright-on-post-modernity-and.html.
Online Videos
Videos hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo do not create most of the content on their sites so you may need to do additional research in order to provide as many details as possible about the video and content creator. Include the content creator, video title, channel name in italics (if different than the content creator), date of publication, the word “video,” and then the URL. For YouTube click “share” and use the shortened URL provided by YouTube itself.
N: 1. Dr. Dan Langston, “Bible Background: Cultures” Bible on the Go! with Dr. Dan, February 26, 2023, video, https://youtu.be/Zpwo65Ti16M.
SN: 2. Langston, “Cultures,” video.
B: Langston, Dan. “Bible Background: Cultures.” Bible on the Go! with Dr. Dan. February 26, 2023. Video. https://youtu.be/Zpwo65Ti16M
N: 1. The Foursquare Church, “Who is Aimee Semple McPherson?,” July 10, 2020, video, https://youtu.be/ilH0xX3ZYD4.
SN: 2. Foursquare, “McPherson,” video.
B: The Foursquare Church. “Who is Aimee Semple McPherson?” July 10, 2020. Video. https://youtu.be/ilH0xX3ZYD4.
N: 1. Elizabeth Groves, “Dramatic Recitation: The Book of Jonah (with English subtitles),” Westminster Theological Seminary, May 3, 2013, video, https://vimeo.com/65396076
SN: 2. Grove, “Jonah,” video.
B: Groves, Elizabeth. “Dramatic Recitation: The Book of Jonah (with English subtitles).” Westminster Theological Seminary. May 3, 2013. Video. https://vimeo.com/65396076.
Podcasts
The information required for citing a podcast include: the principle spokesperson for the podcast (usually the host), episode name in quotations marks, podcast name in italics, media type (podcast), the episode release date, website or DOI where the podcast can be found (this is different than the podcast player you used to listen to the episode).
N: 1. George P. Wood, “Normalize Men and Women Working Together!” Influence Podcast, podcast audio, July 21, 2023, https://influencemagazine.com/en/podcast/normalize-men-and-women-working-together.
SN: 3. Wood, “Normalize,” podcast.
B: Wood, George P. “Normalize Men and Women Working Together!” Influence Podcast. Podcast audio. July 21, 2023. https://influencemagazine.com/en/podcast/normalize-men-and-women-working-together.
Interviews
Check with your faculty member first to confirm whether interviews are allowed to be used in your paper. If they are used, interviews should include the name of the person interviewed (or a pseudonym if real names are withheld), name of the interviewer, place of interview, time of interview, and the location of transcripts or recording of the interview (if known).
N: 1. John Wyckoff, interview by the author, Dallas, January 1, 2023.
SN: 3. Wyckoff, interview.
B: Wyckoff, John. Interviewed by the author. Dallas. January 1, 2023.
N: 1. Martin Luther King Jr, interview by Robert Penn Warren. Atlanta. March 18, 1964, transcript, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Contucky Libraries, https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt79kd1qgb1z.
SN: 3. King Jr., interview.
B: King, Martin Luther, Jr. Interview by Robert Penn Warren. Atlanta. March 18, 1964. Transcript. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Contucky Libraries, https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt79kd1qgb1z.
Social Media
Citations of social media content should include the author and username, the title of the content, the platform, the date the content was posted, and the URL. If the content was viewed in an app, go and find the same content in a browser cite the URL. If there is no title to the content, quote up to the first 160 charcters of the post.
N: 1. Gen Z Bible Stories (@gen.z.bible.stories), “‘Blessed are those’….(new version)” TikTok, October 12, 2023, https://www.tiktok.com/@gen.z.bible.stories/video/7289189746188799275?lang=en
SN: 3. Gen Z, “Blessed,” TikTok.
B: Gen Z bible Stories (@gen.z.bible.stories). “‘Blessed are those’…(new version).” TikTok. October 12, 2023. https://www.tiktok.com/@gen.z.bible.stories/video/7289189746188799275?lang=en
Bible Software
Resources in bible software such as Logos and Accordance should be cited as their print counterparts, with “Logos.” or “Accordance.” appended at the end of the citation. This is because Bible Software does not usually publish its own material but has digitized and integrated other people’s work so that it is searchable within their own proprietary software. When citing resources from bible sSoftware, cite the print counterpart and then indicate which software you used. See the eBook guidelines, above, for examples.
Accordance has its guidance on how to use the software to generate citations https://www.accordancebible.com/accordance-citations/. It also has guidance on how to export its bibliographic information into programs such as Zotero and EndNote: https://www.accordancebible.com/reference-manager/
Sometimes Logos or Accordance produces its own content within the software, such as with their atlas or word-count features. In those cases where the software is not simply providing a digital copy of an independent, physical resource, cite the module in the same way one would cite a webpage from a larger website, or provide a narrative explaining the module in the footnote.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI may not be used for course work without the explicit permission from the professor.
If ChatGPT or other generative AI tools are used at any stage of the writing process, attribution to the tool and its role must be given. Treat the program as the author, the company who makes the program as the publisher, include the date that the tool was used and the URL where the tool can be found. Additionally, include a paragraph in the body of the assignment or in a footnote that explains exactly how AI was used.
In summary, if AI is used in any course work, 1) cite the AI as in the following examples, and 2) also include a paragraph in the body or in footnotes that explains exactly how AI was used.
Unattributed use of AI in any course work is considered plagiarism and is subject to the plagiarism policy of the class.
N: 1. ChatGPT, response to “Who is my neighbor?” OpenAI, February 29, 2024. https://chat.openai.com/chat.
SN: 3. ChatGPT, “Neighbor,” Feb 29, 2024.
B: ChatGPT. OpenAI. February 29. 2024.
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