SS Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute
Orthodox Education for Faith and Life
BIBLE
OVERVIEW
Below are instructions on how to reference the Bible and its books.
BIBLE VERSIONS
Which version of the Bible you are using must be cited by their appropriate acronym.
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English Bible
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The Orthodox Study Bible is the recommended version for use in assignments. Please note that different acronyms are used for the Old Testament and New Testament sections. The proper acronym for the Old Testament version is SAAS (St Athanasius Academy Septuagint), and for the New Testament version it is NKJV (New King James Version). The acronym LXX is commonly used for the Septuagint and can be used in assignments, just indicate which version is being accessed in a footnote when LXX is first used (e.g., SAAS).
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In cases were there is a difference between the corresponding titles, chapters and/or verses of the Greek and Hebrew versions of Old Testament books, the Septuagint (LXX) reference should be followed with the Masoretic Text’s (MT) equivalent in brackets, e.g., Ps 118:97 LXX (119:97 MT).
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Greek New Testament
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There are several versions you can use. Some of the most common are:
Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graecum, 28th edition. Use the acronym” NA28.
The United Bible Societies’, The Greek New Testament, 5th edition. Use the acronym UBS5. T
The Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior. Use the acronym ECM.
IN-TEXT CITATIONS
Unlike other works, Biblical references should be inserted in the sentence where the cited material has been used (aka, in the paragraph, not as a footnote). These references should be located at the end of the section of the sentence in which the allusion to the work appears and be placed before the punctuation mark; aka, before the comma (,) or period (.).
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You must indicate which version of the Bible is being used in the first Biblical reference in your work by their appropriate acronym. There is no need to state the Bible version in following references unless a different version is being referred, in which case it should be made clear which version of the Bible is being referred to by using the acronyms for the versions.
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Biblical references undertake the following format:
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Abbreviated book title Book Number:Verse(s) Number(s) Acronym of Bible Version.
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Examples
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Gen 2:4–8 LXX; Matt 13:16, 18, 21 NKJV; 1 Cor 4:11–5:3.
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“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4 NKJV).
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The prophet Jeremiah warns against the idols of other gods (Jer 10:1–12 LXX).
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The burning bush that appears to Moses in Exodus (3:1–4:17 LXX).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Bible does not need to appear in your bibliography unless you are quoting sections of the work outside of Biblical references. In the later case, follow the format outlined for books.