The first time you cite scripture, indicate which translation you are using in a footnote:
[F]:
2. Jn 1:1. All biblical citations in this paper are taken from the New American Bible, Rev. ed. (Charlotte, NC: Saint Benedict Press, 2010), unless otherwise noted.
You do not need to repeat the translation version in subsequent references unless you are using more than one translation. You also do not need to cite the Bible in your bibliography unless you are citing editorial content, such as an introduction, which you'd then cite as a book chapter per the Quick Guide to Turabian Style.
While you can place your other biblical citations in footnotes, you may also place them in the body of your text, for example:
- “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!” (Phil 4:4).
- Notice the order of the punctuation: the full quote with quotation marks, the citation in parentheses, then the ending period.
- The story of David continues (2 Sam 1:1).
- In 2 Samuel 1, the story of David continues.
- Citation is directly in the body of the text.
Formatting biblical citations:
- Abbreviate book when both chapter and verse follow: Gen 1:3
- Do not abbreviate the book when only the chapter is referenced: Genesis 1
- Use a hyphen between the verse numbers within the same chapter or when spanning whole chapters: Gen 1:3-8 or Exodus 8-11
- Use a dash (i.e., 2 hyphens in a row) when spanning chapters and verses: John 7:40—8:20
- Use a comma to refer to subsequent verse numbers in the same chapter: Rom 12:9, 21
- Use semi-colons between different books or different chapters within a book: Gen 1:3; Exod 3:7; 4:10
- When “book” is used as part of the name, it is written with a capital letter: Book of Job
- The book of the bible is not italicized, and no punctuation follows an abbreviated book.
