How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style: Complete Guide

I still remember my first theology paper. My arguments felt strong. My research was solid. But then I looked at my footnotes. I had a problem. How do you cite the Bible? It isn’t like any other book. It doesn’t have one author. It doesn’t have a publication date. I felt completely stuck. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. Knowing how to cite the Bible Chicago style is a key skill. It shows respect for the Word. It also shows academic professionalism.

This guide will help you master this skill. We will walk through every step. You will learn the rules. You will see clear examples. Your confusion will turn into confidence. You can honor God with your writing. That includes your citations.

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Key Takeaways

• Footnotes are Primary: In Chicago style, you cite the Bible in footnotes or endnotes. A bibliography entry is rarely needed.
• First Note is Full: Your first citation must include the Book, Chapter, Verse, and the Bible Version.
• Later Notes are Short: Subsequent citations for the same version can be much shorter.
• List Versions, Not “The Bible”: If you do need a bibliography entry, you list the specific version you used (e.g., The English Standard Version).
• Abbreviations are Key: Use standard abbreviations for books of the Bible (e.g., Gen. for Genesis) and versions (e.g., NIV for New International Version).

Why is Citing the Bible So Different?

Citing the Bible is unique. It’s not a single book by a single author. It is a collection of books. These books were written over centuries. The modern Bible you hold has editors and translators. It also has a specific version name.

Think about it this way. Your copy of the New International Version is different from a King James Version. They use different words. They have different translation philosophies. Your citation must tell the reader exactly which version you used. This gives your reader the correct context. It is an act of clarity and honesty in your work. Chicago style provides a clear path for this.

What is the Main Way to Cite the Bible in Chicago Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style has two systems. The most common one for theology and humanities is the Notes-Bibliography system. This is the system we will focus on first. It uses footnotes or endnotes to cite sources. It is perfect for citing a sacred text like the Bible.

• It keeps your main text clean and readable.
• It allows for short, simple references in the text.
• It points the reader to the exact location of your quote.

Let’s break down how to create these notes. It’s easier than you might think.

How Should My First Footnote Look?

Your first footnote is the most detailed. It gives your reader all the information they need. It must include four key pieces of information.

1. The book of the Bible.
2. The chapter and verse(s).
3. The name of the version you are using.

Let’s look at an example. Imagine you are quoting John 3:16. Your footnote would look like this:

¹ John 3:16 (New International Version).

That’s it. You have the book (John). You have the chapter and verse (3:16). You have the version (New International Version). It is simple, clean, and professional.

What Do I Do for My Next Footnotes?

Do you have to write that out every time? Thankfully, no. Chicago style makes it easier after the first note. Once you have established the version, you can shorten it. You can use a standard abbreviation for the version.

So, your first footnote was: ¹ John 3:16 (New International Version).

If you cite the NIV again later, it can be much shorter.

² 1 Cor. 13:4 (NIV).

Notice a few things here. The book of the Bible is abbreviated. “Corinthians” becomes “Cor.” The version name is also abbreviated. “New International Version” becomes “NIV.” This keeps your notes tidy. It also saves you a lot of time.

I remember when I first learned this. It felt like a secret key was unlocked. My citation process became so much faster. It allowed me to focus more on my writing and less on the rules.

How Do I List the Bible in a Chicago Style Bibliography?

This is a very important question. It is also a place where many people get confused. I spent a long time looking through the official Chicago Manual of Style to get this right. The answer was surprising.

Do I Even Need a Bibliography Entry for the Bible?

Here is the simple answer: Usually, you do not.

Because all the needed information is in your footnote (Book, Chapter, Verse, Version), a bibliography entry is often redundant. The Bible is considered a classic text. It is easily available. So, a full publication entry is not necessary for your reader.

This is a huge relief for many students. It is one less thing to worry about. But there are a few exceptions.

When Should the Bible Go in My Bibliography?

You should include the Bible in your bibliography in a few specific cases:

• Your instructor requires it. Always follow your professor’s specific guidelines.
• You are using many different versions. If your paper compares the KJV, NIV, and ESV, a bibliography can be helpful. It lists all your primary texts in one place.
• You are citing a lesser-known or specific scholarly edition. If you are using a Bible with unique commentary or a special translation, you should list it.

If you need to create a bibliography entry, here is how you do it. You list it by the name of the version.

• The English Standard Version Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2001.
• New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
• The Holy Bible, King James Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1769.

The format is simple. You put the title of the version in italics. Then you provide the publication information. You can usually find this on the copyright page of your Bible. For more details on formatting, the library guide from Calvin University is an excellent resource. It is an authoritative source from a respected institution.

What About the Author-Date System in Chicago?

Sometimes, you might be asked to use Chicago’s other system: Author-Date. This system is more common in the social sciences. It uses parenthetical citations in the text. Citing the Bible is still a bit different here.

You would still cite the book, chapter, and verse in your text. You would also include the version abbreviation.

For example: Paul reminds us that “love is patient, love is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4, NIV).

Just like with the notes system, you typically do not need a reference list entry. The parenthetical citation gives the reader all the necessary information. The Bible doesn’t have an “author” and “date” in the traditional sense. So, it doesn’t fit well in a standard reference list.

Getting the Details Right: Abbreviations and More

God is in the details. The same is true for good academic writing. Getting the small things right shows care and respect. This is especially true when handling His Word.

Where Can I Find the Right Abbreviations for Books of the Bible?

Using correct abbreviations is important. It shows you know the academic standards. You shouldn’t just make them up. Most Bibles and style guides use a standard set. The Chicago Manual of Style itself provides a list.

Here are some of the most common ones:

• Genesis – Gen.
• Exodus – Exod.
• Leviticus – Lev.
• Deuteronomy – Deut.
• Psalms – Ps. (or Pss. for plural)
• Proverbs – Prov.
• Song of Solomon – Song of Sol.
• Isaiah – Isa.
• Matthew – Matt.
• Romans – Rom.
• Revelation – Rev.

My advice? Find a good list online. Print it out. Keep it by your computer when you write. After a few papers, these abbreviations will become second nature. You will not even have to think about them.

What if I Am Citing a Study Bible?

This is a great question. Many of us use study Bibles. They have helpful notes, maps, and articles. What if you want to cite one of those notes, not the biblical text itself?

In that case, you cite the note’s author. The Bible text itself is cited as we have discussed. But the study notes are a separate work.

Let’s say you have the ESV Study Bible. You want to cite a note on Genesis 1:1 written by a contributor. Your footnote would look like this:

¹ Note on Genesis 1:1, in ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008), 49.

Then, you would include the study Bible in your bibliography. You would list it under the editor’s name, if available. Or you would list it by its title.

ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

This makes a clear distinction. It tells your reader when you are citing Scripture. It also tells them when you are citing a modern scholar’s commentary on it.

Why Does Proper Citation Matter for a Christian?

We could see this as just a set of rules. A hoop to jump through for a grade. But I believe it is more than that. I truly believe that how we handle the Bible in our writing matters deeply. It is an act of worship.

When we cite with care, we show respect. We respect the Word of God. We show that we take it seriously. We are not being sloppy with the most important book ever written.

It is also an act of love for our reader. Clear citations help our readers find our sources. They can check our work. They can read the passages for themselves. It makes our arguments stronger. It invites others into a conversation about the text. We are not hiding anything. We are pointing them to the truth.

I tried for years to find the best way to do this. I looked through books. I talked to librarians. Getting it right felt like an important part of my Christian calling as a student. It was a way to steward the gifts God had given me. It brought integrity to my work.

You Can Do This with Confidence

Learning how to cite the Bible Chicago style might feel intimidating at first. There are rules to remember. There are details to get right. But you can absolutely master this.

Start with the basics.

1. Put your citation in a footnote.
2. Include the book, chapter, verse, and version.
3. Abbreviate after the first reference.
4. Only use a bibliography entry when you really need to.

Keep a list of abbreviations handy. Practice on a few sample sentences. Before you know it, this will all feel easy. You can focus on what really matters: sharing the powerful message of the text you are writing about. You are now equipped to handle God’s Word with the care and precision it deserves in your academic work.

Frequently Asked Questions – How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style