A Biblical Studies Style Guide for CTC

A Biblical Studies Style Guide for CTC ........................................................................ 1 1 Why a Biblical Studies style guide? ........................................................................ 1 2 Common issues ........................................................................................................ 2

2.1 Place of publication........................................................................................... 2 2.2 Internet sources ................................................................................................. 2

3 Examples .................................................................................................................. 2 3.1 Biblical texts ..................................................................................................... 2

3.1.1 Scripture references ................................................................................... 2 3.1.2 English translations of the Bible ................................................................ 3 3.1.3 Hebrew and Greek versions of the Old Testament .................................... 3 3.1.4 Commentary/notes in study Bibles ............................................................ 3

3.2 Commentaries ................................................................................................... 4 3.2.1 Commentaries in a series ........................................................................... 4 3.2.2 A commentary not forming part of a series ............................................... 5 3.2.3 A single commentary in multiple volumes ................................................ 6 3.2.4 Some frequently cited commentaries with their own peculiarities ............ 7

3.3 Dictionaries, encyclopaedias and lexicons ....................................................... 9 3.3.1 “Encyclopaedia article” format .................................................................. 9 3.3.2 “Essay/article in a collection” format ...................................................... 10

3.4 Patristic sources .............................................................................................. 11

1 Why a Biblical Studies style guide?

In academic writing, a “style” is a kind of template or format that governs the

consistent and accurate acknowledgment of direct quotations from other authors and

of the source of key ideas. Different academic institutions use different “styles” for

the citation of the sources used in compiling written work.

The citation style for written work submitted at CTC is the “Chicago Style” (16th

edition, 2010) as set out in the 8th

edition of Turabian:

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and

Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 8th

ed.

Revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and the University

of Chicago Press Editorial Staff. Chicago: University of Chicago

Press, 2013.

Chapters 6 and 7 of that book contain detailed examples and explanations and should

be consulted when in doubt.

Each year, the CTC Handbook provides examples of applications of Chicago Style to

the kinds of sources commonly used in theological writing, but they are not

exhaustive. The purpose of this Biblical Studies Style Guide is to provide further

examples that are more specific to the field of Biblical Studies.

2 Common issues

2.1 Place of publication

The place of publication is always the city where the publisher’s main editorial offices

are found. Normally, the city is found on the title page – in the case of two cities (e.g.

“London and New York”), simply cite the first city. For greater accuracy in the case

of cities in the United States, the city name may be followed by a comma and the

abbreviation of the name of the state in which the city is located. This is not

obligatory. If you choose to include the state, you must use the two-letter

abbreviations employed by the US Postal Service (e.g. MA, CA, TX).

2.2 Internet sources

The great advantage of the internet is the accessibility of material. The great

disadvantage is the lack of quality control over the material published online by

comparison with material published in print. Articles in scholarly journals are

refereed: that is, submitted to experts in the field prior to publication. Books in

academic libraries have generally been published by professional publishers of

scholarly books and have been selected and purchased by librarians with expertise in

the area of theological publications, often in consultation with lecturers. It should not

be assumed that material published on the internet is either accurate or of sufficient

quality to merit inclusion in a scholarly essay. Much of the material relating to the

Bible on the internet is of a highly subjective or fundamentalist nature and has no

place in serious academic discussion.

Generally speaking, internet sources should be avoided unless they make a significant

contribution to your argument and come from a reliable source. Sources are more

likely to be scholarly in nature if they come from sites associated with mainstream

academic institutions such as universities.

3 Examples

3.1 Biblical texts

3.1.1 Scripture references

Refer to the style guide in the current edition of the CTC Handbook for how to make

reference to biblical texts. Note that versions of the Bible are not included in a

bibliography (however, see 3.1.4 below regarding study Bibles).

A scripture reference may properly form part of a sentence, e.g.:

“With its indication of a turn towards Jerusalem, Lk 9:51 marks a key turning point in the

narrative.”

Or, a scriptural reference may take the form of a parenthetical note within the body of

the text (note that scriptural references are not generally placed in footnotes), e.g.:

“The key turning point in the narrative occurs where the reader is told that Jesus sets his face

towards Jerusalem (Lk 9:51).”

The parenthetical note form is obviously preferable when a number of references are

made together, e.g.:

“Matthew’s numerous references to Peter suggest that the evangelist has a special interest in

this disciple (Mt 4:18; 10:2; 14:28–29; 15:15; 16:16, 18, 22–23; 17:1, 4, 24, 26; 18:21; 19:27;

26:33, 35, 37, 40, 58, 69, 73, 75).”

3.1.2 English translations of the Bible

In general, it is assumed for CTC purposes that the English translation being referred

to is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). If you wish to refer specifically to

another translation, it is advisable to include the name or the standard abbreviation of

that other translation as part of the reference, e.g.:

“The Greek verb ἐγείρω is susceptible of translation either actively “he has risen” (Mt 28:6

NJB) or passively “he has been raised” (Mt 28:6 NAB).”

3.1.3 Hebrew and Greek versions of the Old Testament

With regard to the Old Testament, significant differences sometimes exist between

the received Hebrew text from which most English translations are made, known as

the Masoretic text (abbreviated “MT”), and the ancient Greek version known as the

Septuagint (usually symbolised by “LXX”). As with translations, reference may be

made to a specific version where this is significant, e.g.:

“Matthew’s insistence on the virginal conception of Jesus is underlined by his reference to

prophecy (Isa 7:14 LXX).”

3.1.4 Commentary/notes in study Bibles

“Study” or “Annotated” Bibles include notes or commentary on the text, usually in

the form of extended notes at the foot or side of the page. The author of the

notes/commentary will be normally be indicated, for example at the beginning of the

particular biblical book or in a table of contents. If possible, you should identify the

author of the note to which you are referring.

Since the notes/commentary is normally organised using the chapter and verse

references of the biblical text, it is appropriate to use this rather than page numbers.

1st footnote: Samuel Terrien and Roland E. Murphy, Note on Job 35:1-16 in

The New Oxford Annotated Bible, rev. ed., ed. Bruce M.

Metzger and Roland E. Murphy (New York: Oxford University

Press, 1991).

Subsequent: Terrien and Murphy, Note on Job 35:1-16.

Bibliography: Terrien, Samuel and Roland E. Murphy, Notes on Job. In The

New Oxford Annotated Bible. Rev. ed., edited by Bruce

M. Metzger and Roland E. Murphy. New York: Oxford

University Press, 1991.

Study bibles often include topical articles, which should be cited in the usual way for

an article/essay in a collection. Since pagination in Bibles normally restarts with the

NT, it will usually be necessary to specify whether the pages refer to the OT or NT

section.

1st footnote: Walter Brueggemann, “The Prophetical Books,” in The New

Oxford Annotated Bible, rev. ed., ed. Bruce M. Metzger and

Roland E. Murphy (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991),

864 (OT).

Subsequent: Brueggemann, “The Prophetical Books,” 864 (OT).

Bibliography: Brueggemann, Walter. “The Prophetical Books.” In The New

Oxford Annotated Bible. Rev. ed., edited by Bruce M.

Metzger and Roland E. Murphy, 862-65 (OT). New

York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

3.2 Commentaries

Commentaries are simply a type of book. Their peculiarity lies not in the way they are

cited, but in their own internal form: a commentary is a systematic analysis of a

biblical book or books or part thereof and normally includes as a major component

some kind of sequential exposition of the text (for example, a verse by verse or

chapter by chapter commentary).

Citing a commentary is frequently more complicated than other books since they may

belong to a series or exist in more than one volume.

3.2.1 Commentaries in a series

Most commentaries form part of a series. While the citation of the series name and

volume number (if any) is not strictly obligatory, it is conventional and appropriate to

do so in the case of biblical commentaries, since it increases the accuracy of your

citation and avoids potential confusion given that biblical commentaries normally

bear the title of the biblical book on which they comment – leading to many different

commentaries with the same or similar titles. Be careful not to confuse the title of the

volume itself with the title of the series – both of which may well appear on the cover.

Also be careful to distinguish the author of the commentary itself (i.e. of the volume

you are citing) from the editor of the overall series. Generally, it is unnecessary to cite

the name of a series editor (for example, Daniel Harrington in the case of the Sacra

Pagina series).

Ultimately, if in doubt about the correct way to cite a commentary, consult your

lecturer.

3.2.1.1 A commentary in a series with a volume number:

1st footnote: Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, Sacra Pagina 4

(Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998), 250.

Subsequent: Moloney, Gospel of John, 250.

Bibliography: Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina 4.

Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998.

1st footnote: Andrew E. Hill, Malachi: A New Translation and Commentary,

Anchor Bible 25D (New York: Doubleday, 1998), 24.

Subsequent: Hill, Malachi, 24.

Bibliography: Hill, Andrew E. Malachi: A New Translation and Commentary.

Anchor Bible 25D. New York: Doubleday, 1998.

3.2.1.2 A commentary in a series without volume numbers:

1st footnote: Jerome T. Walsh, 1 Kings, Berit Olam (Collegeville, MN:

Liturgical Press, 1996), 134.

Subsequent: Walsh, 1 Kings, 134.

Bibliography: Walsh, Jerome T. 1 Kings. Berit Olam. Collegeville, MN:

Liturgical Press, 1996.

3.2.2 A commentary not forming part of a series

Some commentaries are not part of any series and are simply cited like any other

book.

1st footnote: Brendan Byrne, A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of

Mark’s Gospel (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008), 56.

Subsequent: Byrne, Costly Freedom, 56.

Bibliography: Byrne, Brendan. A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of

Mark’s Gospel. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press,

2008.

3.2.3 A single commentary in multiple volumes

Some commentaries on a single book of the Bible are themselves in multiple volumes

(and may or may not be part of a series). For example, the commentary on Matthew

by Ulrich Luz in the Hermeneia series appears in three separate volumes published

over a number of years. The individual volume to which you are referring should be

cited in footnotes. In the bibliography, you should cite the individual volume unless in

the course of your paper you have referred to more than one of the volumes; in the

latter case, cite the commentary as a whole.

1st footnote: Ulrich Luz, Matthew 1-7: A Commentary, trans. James E.

Crouch, Hermeneia (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2007),

200.

Subsequent: Luz, Matthew 1-7, 200.

Bibliography: Luz, Ulrich. Matthew 1-7: A Commentary. Translated by James

E. Crouch. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress Press,

2007.

Or, where you have referred to more than one of the volumes in Luz’s

commentary, cite the commentary as a whole in the bibliography:

Luz, Ulrich. Matthew: A Commentary. Translated by James E.

Crouch. 3 vols. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress

Press, 2007.

The following example is a two volume commentary that relates only to a portion of

the book of Isaiah (chapters 40-55 or Deutero-Isaiah). It is slightly different from the

Luz example above in that both volumes bear the same title, whereas the title of each

volume of Luz’s commentary identifies the chapters of Matthew’s Gospel being

treated in that volume. Therefore, in the following example the two different volumes

are identified not by a differing title, but by volume number.

1st footnote: John Goldingay and David Payne, A Critical and Exegetical

Commentary on Isaiah 40-55, International Critical

Commentary (London: T&T Clark, 2006), 1:156.

Subsequent: Goldingay and Payne, Isaiah 40-55, 1:156.

Bibliography: Goldingay, John, and David Payne. A Critical and Exegetical

Commentary on Isaiah 40-55. Vol. 1. International

Critical Commentary. London: T&T Clark, 2006.

As with the Luz example, if you cite material from both volumes of this

commentary in your notes, a single citation in the bibliography to the two

volume work as a whole is used:

Goldingay, John, and David Payne. A Critical and Exegetical

Commentary on Isaiah 40-55. 2 vols. International

Critical Commentary. London: T&T Clark, 2006.

3.2.4 Some frequently cited commentaries with their own peculiarities

3.2.4.1 New Jerome Biblical Commentary

The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (NJBC) is a collection of short commentaries

on individual books of the Bible together with topical essays. Each chapter is in fact a

separate essay or article with its own author(s). As such, references to the NJBC

should follow the style for an essay/article in a collection with up to three editors. The

NJBC is a little unusual in that it contains its own internal referencing system by

chapter and paragraph number. This system may be used instead of page numbers as

it provides an even more precise indication of the source of a quotation or idea.

1st footnote: Bruce Vawter, “Introduction to Prophetic Literature,” in The

New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. Raymond E. Brown,

Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy (London: Geoffrey

Chapman, 1989), 11:5.

Subsequent: Vawter, “Introduction,” 11:5.

Bibliography: Vawter, Bruce. “Introduction to Prophetic Literature.” In The

New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by Raymond

E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy,

11:1-25. London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1989.

3.2.4.2 The New Interpreter’s Bible

The New Interpreter’s Bible is a twelve volume work containing commentaries and

thematic articles by various authors. The “chapters” in this work should therefore be

cited like essays in an edited collection. Take care to cite both volume and page

number.

1st footnote: Gene M. Tucker, “The Book of Isaiah 1-39: Introduction,

Commentary, and Reflections,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible,

ed. Leander Keck et al. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001),

6:246.

Subsequent: Tucker, “Isaiah 1-39,” 6:246.

Bibliography: Tucker, Gene M. “The Book of Isaiah 1-39: Introduction,

Commentary, and Reflections.” In The New Interpreter’s Bible,

edited by Leander Keck et al., 6:27-305. Nashville: Abingdon

Press, 2001.

3.2.4.3 The International Critical Commentary

The International Critical Commentary is an example of a commentary series that is

not just being revised but entirely republished with new authors. As such, there may

be confusion where the old and the new commentaries bear the same title, e.g.:

Original commentary on Matthew’s Gospel:

1st footnote: Willoughby C. Allen, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary

on the Gospel According to St Matthew, International Critical

Commentary (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1907), 146.

Subsequent: Allen, Matthew, 146.

Bibliography: Allen, Willoughby C. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary

on the Gospel According to St Matthew. International

Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1907.

New commentary on Matthew’s Gospel (which happens to be in three

volumes):

1st footnote: W.D. Davies and Dale C. Allison, A Critical and Exegetical

Commentary on the Gospel According to St Matthew,

International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T&T Clark,

1991), 2:245.

Subsequent: Davies and Allison, Matthew, 2:245.

Bibliography: Davies, W.D. and Dale C. Allison. A Critical and Exegetical

Commentary on the Gospel According to St Matthew.

Vol. 2. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh:

T&T Clark, 1991.

Or if citing the entire commentary in three volumes:

Davies, W.D. and Dale C. Allison. A Critical and Exegetical

Commentary on the Gospel According to St Matthew. 3

vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh:

T&T Clark, 1988-1997.

3.3 Dictionaries, encyclopaedias and lexicons

The distinguishing feature of these kinds of reference works is their organisation of

their contents in alphabetical order. However, when it comes to the citation of entries

in reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopaedias, the examples given in the

CTC Handbook draw a distinction between an “Essay/article in a collection” and an

“Encyclopaedia article”. In the latter case, only the title of the work is cited and the

usual publication details (author/editor of the book, place of publication, publisher)

are omitted. This is only justifiable in the case of very well known, standard reference

works. It is to be remembered that the point of a citation is to enable the reader readily

to track down the source. Therefore, if in doubt, the best option is to cite in the form

given for an “Essay/article in a collection.”

In the field of Biblical studies, examples of very well known reference works that

could be cited using the shorter “Encyclopaedia article” style are:

Anchor Bible Dictionary

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian

Literature

The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament

Remember that in a longer essay in which you may be citing such reference works

numerous times, it is permissible to assign abbreviations of their titles in your list of

abbreviations at the beginning of the essay e.g. TDNT for Theological Dictionary of

the New Testament.

3.3.1 “Encyclopaedia article” format

3.3.1.1 Signed entries

A signed entry is one where the author of the particular entry or article is known.

Sometimes the author’s name occurs at the end of the entry either in full or in the

form of initials. Sometimes the authors of the various entries are listed elsewhere in

the volume.

1st footnote: Robert Houston Smith, “Lebanon,” in Anchor Bible Dictionary

(1992), 4:269.

Subsequent: Smith, “Lebanon,” 269.

Bibliography: Smith, Robert Houston. “Lebanon.” In Anchor Bible

Dictionary (1992), 4:269-70.

1st footnote: Walter Grundmann and Georg Bertram, “καλός,” in

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1965), 3:538-39.

Subsequent: Grundmann and Bertram, “καλός,” 3:538-39.

Bibliography: Grundmann, Walter and Georg Bertram. “καλός.” In

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1965),

3:536-56.

3.3.1.2 Unsigned entries

1st footnote: “εὐλογία,” in A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament

and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd

ed. (2000), 408.

Subsequent: “εὐλογία,” in A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament

and Other Early Christian Literature, 408.

Bibliography: “εὐλογία.” In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament

and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd

ed. (2000),

408-09.

3.3.2 “Essay/article in a collection” format

If in doubt about whether a reference work is well known enough to justify using the

short “Encyclopedia article” format, use the “Essay/article in a collection” format as it

provides more information about the source.

3.3.2.1 Signed entries

1st footnote: Christopher T. Begg, “Ezekiel, the Book of,” in The Oxford

Companion to the Bible, ed. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D.

Coogan (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993), 218.

Subsequent: Begg, “Ezekiel,” 218

Bibliography: Begg, Christopher T. “Ezekiel, the Book of.” In The Oxford

Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger

and Michael D. Coogan, 217-19. Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 1993.

1st footnote: Daniel G. Reid, “Principalities and Powers,” in Dictionary of

Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P.

Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity

Press, 1993) 748-50.

Subsequent: Reid, “Principalities and Powers,” 748-50.

Bibliography: Reid, Daniel, G. “Principalities and Powers.” In Dictionary of

Paul and His Letters, edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne,

Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, 746-52. Downers

Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

1st footnote: David Ussishkin, “Lachish,” in The Oxford Encyclopedia of

Archaeology in the Near East, ed. Eric M. Meyers (New York:

Oxford University Press, 1997), 322.

Subsequent: Ussishkin, “Lachish,” 322.

Bibliography: Ussishkin, David. “Lachish.” In The Oxford Encyclopedia of

Archaeology in the Near East, edited by Eric M.

Meyers, 317-23. New York: Oxford University Press,

1997.

3.3.2.2 Unsigned entries

1st footnote: “Disciple,” in Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible

Words, ed. Lawrence O. Richards (Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Publishing House, 1991), 226.

Subsequent: “Disciple,” in Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible

Words, 226.

Bibliography: “Disciple.” In Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible

Words, edited by Lawrence O. Richards, 226-27. Grand

Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991.

3.4 Patristic sources

The comments of the Fathers on the Bible have recently become much more

accessible through the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series. Students

should be aware that this series is simply a collection of quotations taken directly

from the Fathers and translated into English. After each quotation the reference is

cited. In some cases the reference is to the original Latin or Greek in critical editions

such as the Corpus Christianorum, in which case the English text is the translation

done by the editors of the Ancient Christian Commentary. In other cases, the

reference is to a standard English translation of the Fathers such as the Ante-Nicene

Fathers. Editions of the Fathers generally break individual works down into books

and/or chapters and paragraphs for ease of reference (like the chapter and verse

numbers in the Scriptures, these references are usually not original to the text).

In any case, the primary reference is to the Father whose words or ideas are being

cited and not to the Ancient Christian Commentary. However, it can be helpful to

indicate the source of the English translation to which you are referring as a

secondary element in a citation.

Say, for example, you refer to a comment from Bede on Rev 12:17-18 that you have

found in Revelation, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament,

12:195. The footnote there informs you that the source is CCL 121A:399 (i.e. the

critical Latin edition in Corpus Christianorum Series Latina). Any of the following

citations would be appropriate:

1st footnote: Bede Explanation of the Apocalypse 12.17-18

or

Bede Explanation of the Apocalypse 12.17-18 (CCL 121A:399)

or

Bede Explanation of the Apocalypse 12.17-18 quoted in William C.

Weinrich, Revelation, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture:

New Testament 12 (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005),

195.

Generally speaking, Patristic works do not need to be cited in the bibliography.