The Bible should be cited in the main text or in a parenthetical note. Specific instructions and accompanying examples appear below.
SBL specifies that when citing a book without a chapter, the Bible book should be written out in the main text as in this example:
- Matthew contains the most frequently referenced version of Christ's Sermon on the Mount.
When citing a chapter and verse, the book of the Bible should be abbreviated unless it appears at the beginning of the sentence. An example of both is shown below.
- The Beatitudes found in Matt 5:3-12 continue to be a source for numerous sermons and books.
- Matthew 5:3-12 contains the familiar Beatitudes which continue to be a source of numerous sermons and books.
Bible passages may also be cited using a parenthetical citation which is particularly useful when quoting a specific passage of scripture as indicated below.
- Jesus teaches "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matt 5:7 NIV).
Note: there is not a period after the abbreviation but a colon separates chapter and verse.
SBL indicates the version used in a citation should be noted in the citation when multiple translations or version is used.
If multiple passages are cited, SBL has specific guidelines for listing them.
- Multiple single verses from a chapter should have a comma and space between them such as Matt 5: 3, 5, 7
- Multiple chapters from the same book should be listed in numerical order and separated by a semi-colon such as Matt 5:7; 9:13; 12:7
- Multiple passages from different books of the Bible should be listed in canonical and numerical order and separated by a semi-colon such as Hos 6:6; Matt 9:13
