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Eastern Orthodox Christianity: Cite sources

A guide to researching the churches of the Eastern Orthodox tradition

Writing Help!

The Academic Resource Center (The ARC) is a place to get help with your writing and your citation concerns.  The link below is to a whole LibGuide dedicated to answering your questions about writing and citation for different disciplines.  The ARC is also the place you can get  individual tutoring in almost any class you're taking, as well as connect to scheduled drop-in sessions for writing and other disciplines... like Math!

Click below for the Writing LibGuide.

Chicago Style

This manual is available in an online version. LMU only

[Note: 16th edition new in Fall, 2010; online version will access both 16th and 15th eds.]

Citing Sacred Texts

Here are some segments of the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., relevant for Biblical and other Sacred Scripture references.  Remember, you'll need to use your OneCard name and Library/barcode number to access from off campus.  See the next tab for specific citation guidelines and help.

Scriptural references for various religions, 8.102–3.

See also religious works   

Biblical citations:

    abbreviations in, 10.45–51

    chapter and verse, 14.253

    punctuation of, 6.60, 9.27

    resources on, 14.252

    versions of Bible in, 14.254

  • See also Bible  

  • Biblical references are given in numerals only; chapter and verse are separated by a colon with no space following it. For abbreviations, see 10.45–51.

    SBL Style

    SBL style is used for scholarly writing in the areas of Biblical Studies, especially for publications of the Society for Biblical Literature.

    Opere Citato

    St. Mark

    Modena Cathedral

    High Altar apse, mosaic

    Photo: T. Amodeo 2010

    MLA Style

    The Modern Language Association style is used in the fields of language and literature.

    Reference LB 2369 .G53 2009

    Citing the Bible in MLA Style

    When citing the Bible in the TEXT of your paper, use parenthetical citations:

    Your first citation from a Bible should tell exactly what version of the Bible (NRSV, NIV, New American...) you are citing.  Use a parenthesis, and include the underlined or italicized exact title of the Bible.  Then tell which Biblical book you are citing (Genesis, Matthew, 2 Corinthians...) but NOT underlined or italicized.  Then tell which chapter and which verse or verses.

    Example:

    .... portraying Jesus' emotions as, for example, "And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harrass1ed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd." clearly showing that he felt human emotions (New Jerusalem Bible, Matt. 9.36).

    Your second citation and after for the same Bible edition should only include the boo, chapter and verse/verses within the parentheses.  And if, for some reason, you are using more than one Bible version, make clear which one is being cited.

    Example:

    As plainly stated, "...because they trample on the heads of ordinary people and push the poor out of their path," the Lord of All takes them as far from righteous (Amos 2.7).

    For your Bibliography/Works Cited page, list the exact edition/translation you used, including editor or editors, and then the standard publication information for a book, i.e. place of publication, publisher, and year. Double-space between lines and entries.

    Example:

    The New Jerusalem Bible. Ed. Susan Jones.

         New York: Doubleday, 1985. Print.

    Citation Styles

    Note: Your instructor may direct you to use a format not included here, or may direct you to use a variation of one of these formats. Be sure to make yourself aware of each instructor's preference, and be consistent within your paper.

     

    Chicago
    The Chicago Manual of Style is used in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Many of the theology and philosophy faculty prefer this style.

     

    MLA
    The Modern Language Association style is used in the fields of language and literature.

     

    APA
    The American Psychological Association style is used in the social sciences, business, anthropology, and some of the life sciences. Not usually used for theological papers.