How To Cite The Bible In Turabian: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

To cite the Bible in Turabian style, you must identify the book, chapter, verse, and the specific translation or version used, formatted as a parenthetical or footnote reference without italicizing the biblical book names. While standard Bible versions do not require an entry in your bibliography, any specialized study Bible commentary, online database version, or unique print edition must be fully documented in both your notes and your bibliography. This technical guide outlines the exact punctuation, abbreviation standards, and structural rules required by the 9th edition of the Turabian manual.

Technical Foundations: System Configuration and Source Metadata

Before writing a single footnote or parenthetical citation, you must determine which of the two Turabian citation systems your department requires: the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system (most common in history, theology, and the humanities) or the Author-Date (AD) system (preferred in the social sciences).

The technical rules governing biblical citations differ significantly from standard book citations. The Bible is treated as a sacred text, meaning its individual books are not italicized, and its internal divisions (chapters and verses) are cited instead of page numbers. To prepare your metadata, gather the following details from your source:

• The Translation/Version Name: (e.g., English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, King James Version)
• The Book Name, Chapter, and Verse Range: (e.g., Genesis, Chapter 1, Verses 1 to 3)
• Editor/Translator Names: (Only required for specialized study Bibles or critical editions)
• Publisher, Location, and Year of Publication: (Only required for study Bibles or if specifically requested by your instructor)

Citation Prerequisites and Specifications Checklist

• Standard Style Manual: Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (9th Edition / Chicago 17th Edition).
• Required Typographical Settings: Double-spaced main body text, single-spaced footnotes with a first-line indent of 0.5 inches, and a 10pt or 12pt standard font (such as Times New Roman).
• Default Abbreviation Database: Determine whether your department requires the traditional abbreviation list (e.g., Gen., Exod., Lev.) or the shorter, modern abbreviation list (e.g., Gn, Ex, Lv).
• Standard Project Duration: Budget 5 to 10 minutes per citation to verify verse range formatting and cross-reference translation abbreviations.

Step-by-Step Biblical Citation Workflows

Because Turabian style supports two distinct tracking methods, you must execute the appropriate workflow for either the Notes-Bibliography system or the Author-Date system. Follow these execution pathways to format your citations with absolute precision.

Step 1: Format the First Reference in the Notes-Bibliography System

In the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system, your very first reference to a biblical passage must identify both the passage and the translation or version you are using. You do not include page numbers; instead, you use chapter and verse numbers separated by a colon.

To construct the first note, write the superscript number at the end of the sentence containing the quoted or paraphrased material. In the corresponding footnote at the bottom of the page, structure the citation as follows:

Footnote Entry Example:

1. 2 Cor. 5:17 (New Revised Standard Version).

If you prefer to use the abbreviated version name in your first citation, you may do so as long as it is an established, recognizable abbreviation:

Footnote Entry Example with Abbreviated Version: 2. 1 Thess. 4:11-12 (ESV).

Note that there is no comma between the book name and the chapter number. The colon separating the chapter and verse is followed immediately by the verse number with no space. The translation name is enclosed in parentheses and is followed by a period.

Step 2: Format Subsequent Footnotes

Once you have established the translation in your first footnote, subsequent citations of the Bible do not need to repeat the version name, provided you are using the same translation throughout your paper.

Footnote Entry Examples: 3. Rom. 12:1-2. 4. Rom. 15:4.

If you switch to a different translation later in your paper, you must indicate this change to the reader by adding the new translation name or abbreviation in parentheses:

Footnote Entry Example with a Switched Translation: 5. John 3:16 (KJV).

Step 3: Format Citations in the Author-Date System

If your manuscript utilizes the Author-Date (AD) system, you will not use footnotes. Instead, place the citation details inside parentheses directly within your running text, immediately after the quotation or paraphrase.

Parenthetical Reference Examples: The apostle Paul exhorts believers to live in unity (1 Cor. 1:10, NRSV). In subsequent citations using the same translation: He reinforces this theme later in his correspondence (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

If you mention the book and chapter directly within the flow of your sentence, you only need to place the verse and translation in parentheses:

In Genesis 1:1, we read of the initial creation of the heavens and the earth (NRSV).

Step 4: Apply Proper Book Abbreviations

Turabian style mandates the use of standard abbreviations for biblical books when they appear in footnotes or parenthetical citations. However, you must spell out the names of biblical books when they appear within the running text of your paper.

• In-Text Example: "In the book of Romans, chapter twelve, Paul discusses spiritual gifts."
• In-Text with Chapter and Verse Example: "We see this principle illustrated clearly in Genesis 1:1." (Do not write "Gen. 1:1" in the main body text unless it is within parentheses).
• Note Citation Example: 1. Rom. 12:1-2.

Always use Arabic numerals for books (e.g., 1 Cor. and 2 Kings) rather than Roman numerals (e.g., I Cor. or II Kings), even if your physical Bible uses Roman numerals.

Step 5: Construct Bibliography and Reference List Entries

As a general rule under Turabian guidelines, standard versions of the Bible (such as a plain text King James Version or New International Version) are excluded from the bibliography or reference list. The inline parenthetical references or footnotes are considered sufficient for the reader to find the source text.

However, if you are analyzing a specific, critical edition, a study Bible with extensive scholar commentary, or if your department specifically requires all sources to be listed in the bibliography, you must construct a formal entry.

Bibliography Entry Structure for a Study Bible: Title of the Work. Edited by Editor's First and Last Name. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Bibliography Entry Example: The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. Edited by Harold W. Attridge. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2006.

In your bibliography, list the entry alphabetically by the title of the Bible edition (e.g., HarperCollins Study Bible under "H" or The New Oxford Annotated Bible under "N", ignoring "The").

Technical Specifications: Abbreviations and Syntax Mapping

Use the following reference table to align your citations with Turabian’s precise punctuation, spacing, and abbreviation parameters. This table displays standard biblical books, their correct Turabian abbreviations, and the structural differences between footnote styles.

Troubleshooting Complex Biblical Citations

Real-world research papers often present formatting challenges that go beyond simple single-verse citations. Use the following diagnostic solutions to resolve complex citation issues.

Scenario 1: Citing Study Bible Commentaries or Annotations

When you reference the interpretive notes, introductions, or essays written by modern editors inside a study Bible, you cannot cite them as standard biblical text. You must credit the specific author of that commentary.

• Root Cause: Using standard biblical text citations for modern theological commentary misattributes the authorship of those ideas.
• Actionable Fix: Cite the author of the specific annotation or study note, the title of the annotation (if applicable), and the specific study Bible details including page numbers.
  
  
  • Footnote Example: 1. David L. Petersen, study notes on Gen. 1:1-2:4, in The HarperCollins Study Bible, ed. Harold W. Attridge (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2006), 5.
  • Bibliography Example: Petersen, David L. Study notes on Gen. 1:1-2:4. In The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, edited by Harold W. Attridge, 5-8. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2006.

Scenario 2: Citing Non-Consecutive Verses or Multiple Chapters

When you need to reference several disjointed sections of a book within a single footnote.

• Root Cause: Improper use of commas, semicolons, and hyphens can confuse your reader regarding chapter and verse boundaries.
• Actionable Fix: Use a comma to separate non-consecutive verses within the same chapter. Use a semicolon to separate different chapters, or to separate different books. Use an en-dash (or simple hyphen) to show a continuous range of verses.
  
  
  • Non-consecutive verses in one chapter: 1. Rom. 8:14, 16, 28.
  • Different chapters within the same book: 2. Rom. 8:14; 12:1-2.
  • Different books entirely: 3. Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3:6-9.

Scenario 3: Citing the Bible from an Online Portal or App

When you read the biblical text from an online database (like BibleGateway) or an mobile application (like YouVersion) instead of a physical print copy.

• Root Cause: Failing to account for the electronic medium when citing the source, which limits transparency.
• Actionable Fix: Format your footnote with the standard book, chapter, and verse range, followed by the translation abbreviation, and add either the URL or database name. Do not include access dates unless your institution explicitly requires them.
  
  
  • Footnote Example: 1. John 1:1-5 (NIV), BibleGateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1.
  • Bibliography Example (if required): New International Version. BibleGateway. https://www.biblegateway.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I italicize the word "Bible" or the names of the individual books in Turabian?

No. In Turabian style, the word "Bible," "Testament," and all the individual books of the Old Testament, New Testament, and Apocrypha are treated as proper nouns and are never italicized. However, you must italicize the titles of specific published editions of the Bible, such as The English Standard Version Study Bible or The New Oxford Annotated Bible.

Should I use colons or periods to separate chapters and verses in Turabian?

Turabian style permits both systems, but they must be applied consistently throughout your entire manuscript. The standard, widely preferred system uses a colon to separate the chapter and the verse (e.g., Gen. 1:1). The alternative system, which is common in some theological circles, uses a period (e.g., Gen. 1.1). Check with your department or instructor before choosing the period option.

How do I cite apocryphal or deuterocanonical books?

You cite apocryphal or deuterocanonical books (such as Tobit, Judith, or 1 Maccabees) exactly like any other book of the Bible. Use the standard Turabian abbreviations (e.g., Tob., Jdt., 1 Macc.) in footnotes and parenthetical citations, and spell out the full name of the book when mentioning it within your running text.

Can I use "ff." to indicate following verses in Turabian?

No. The 9th edition of the Turabian manual strongly discourages the use of "ff." or "f." to denote subsequent verses (e.g., Gen. 12:1ff.). Instead, you must specify the exact, inclusive verse range (e.g., Gen. 12:1-9) to provide your readers with precise references.

Achieve Academic Precision in Your Research

Writing a flawless theological or historical research paper requires rigorous attention to detail. If you want to ensure your entire manuscript complies perfectly with every nuance of Chicago and Turabian standards, explore our suite of advanced academic citation tools and formatting resources.