How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style: Complete Guide

I still remember the feeling in my first history class. For weeks, I had worked on a paper about early American religious history, and I was proud of it. But when I got it back, there were red circles all over my citations. My professor’s note was short: “The Bible isn’t cited like a normal book. See Chicago Manual.” It was then I learned that knowing how to cite the Bible Chicago style was a basic skill I had missed. The Bible is certainly a special case. Because it is an old and common text, it has its own set of rules.

This guide, therefore, has everything I needed back then. It is a full guide for students and writers on how to cite the Bible using the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). Together, we will look at the format and also the reasons for the rules. This will help you cite with confidence and avoid mistakes. This is not just about avoiding plagiarism; it’s also about showing you are a careful writer. Learning how to cite the Bible Chicago style is straightforward with the right instructions.

Forget being confused. After reading this guide, you will fully understand the process, from your first footnote to your final bibliography.

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Why Do Chicago Style Bible Citations Have Special Rules?

First, why does the Bible have different rules than other books? The main reason is that it’s a “classic” work. Think of books by Shakespeare or Plato, for instance. For hundreds of years, the Bible has been printed in many versions and translations. Understanding this history is the first step in learning how to cite the Bible Chicago style.

Because of this, a normal citation (like “The Bible. Zondervan, 2011.”) is not very helpful. Which Bible? Which translation? A reader, as a result, could not find the exact part you are talking about.

So, Chicago style focuses on the parts inside the book itself. These are the book, chapter, and verse. Importantly, these parts are the same in all Bibles. The version you use is also important, but it comes after the location. This method helps anyone find your source, no matter which Bible they have.

Choosing a Chicago Format: Notes-Bibliography for Citing the Bible

Before we start, you should know that Chicago style has two main systems:

1. Notes and Bibliography (N-B): You will almost always use this system for citing the Bible. It is common in the humanities (like history, literature, and art). Furthermore, it uses numbered footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography at the end.
2. Author-Date: This system uses citations in parentheses inside the text. It’s used more in the sciences.

For this guide, we will focus only on the Notes-Bibliography system, as it is the standard for writing that uses scripture.

How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style: Your First Footnote

The first time you cite the Bible, you must give the full details. After that, however, your citations for the same version can be much shorter. We will cover that soon.

The standard format for a footnote is simple. First, you list the book, chapter, and verse. Then, you put the name of the version you used in parentheses. This template is the foundation of how to cite the Bible Chicago style.

The Template:

#. Book Chapter:Verse(s) (Version).

Let’s look at each part:

• Note Number (#.): This is the small number in your text. It matches the footnote at the bottom of the page.
• Book: This is the name of the book in the Bible (like Genesis, John, or Romans). You can use common short names (like Gen. for Genesis or Matt. for Matthew) to keep your notes clean.
• Chapter and Verse (:): The chapter number comes first, followed by a colon, and then the verse number.
• Version: This part is very important. You must say which Bible translation you are using because the words can be very different between versions. Be sure to put the full name or short name of the version in parentheses.
• Period: Finally, put a period at the end of the citation.

Let’s See Some Examples:

Here is a citation for Genesis, chapter 1, verse 27:

1. Genesis 1:27 (New Revised Standard Version).

Here is one that covers many verses:

2. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (English Standard Version).

And here is one with short forms for the book and version:

3. Ps. 23:1 (KJV).

It’s not too hard once you see the pattern. Above all, the most important thing is to be consistent. Pick a version and a style and stick with it. To compare Bible versions, you can also use a great site like Bible Gateway.

Citing the Bible in Subsequent Footnotes with Chicago Style

After you cite a version of the Bible for the first time, you don’t have to repeat the version name. Indeed, Chicago style likes to be efficient.

For all other footnotes that use the same version, you can simply leave out the version name.

Example:

Let’s say your first Bible citation is from the New International Version.

1. John 14:6 (New International Version).

If you cite another passage from the NIV later, your footnote would just be:

2. Psalm 119:105.

The reader will then know you are still using the New International Version.

What If I Switch Versions?

That’s a good question. If you use a new translation in your paper, you just write a new, full footnote for that version.

Example of Switching:

1. John 14:6 (New International Version).

… (your writing) …

2. Psalm 119:105.

… (your writing, now using the KJV) …

3. Proverbs 3:5-6 (King James Version).

After footnote 3, readers will then assume you are using the King James Version.

How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style: The Bibliography Question

This is a very common question. The short answer is: probably not.

The Chicago Manual of Style (14.237) says that books like the Bible are usually left out of the bibliography. In short, the footnotes give the reader all the info they need to find the passage. A key part of how to cite the Bible Chicago style is knowing when a bibliography entry isn’t needed.

However, there are times you should add the Bible to your bibliography:

• Your teacher or publisher asks for it.
• You are comparing many Bible versions in your work.
• The Bible is a major source for your paper.

If you add it, the format is very simple.

Bibliography Format:

Name of the Version. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example Entries:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2001.

New International Version. Zondervan, 2011.

You list the exact edition you used. This is where publisher info is needed. For more on Chicago style, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a great and trusted resource.

Advanced Chicago Style Bible Citations for Special Cases

The basics will work most of the time. Still, academic writing can be tricky. Knowing how to cite the Bible Chicago style also means handling these special cases. Let’s look at other situations you might see.

How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style: Citing a Study Bible

What if you use the notes or essays in a study Bible? This is a different case entirely.

Here, you are not citing the Bible itself. Instead, you are citing a book with an editor or author. For this reason, you should cite it like any other book, focusing on the person who wrote the note or edited the book. This distinction is crucial for properly learning how to cite the Bible Chicago style.

Example:

Let’s say you use the NIV Study Bible. You want to cite a note on John 3:16.

Footnote for a note:

1. Author of Note, “Title of Note,” in Title of Study Bible, ed. Editor’s Name (City: Publisher, Year), page number.

If the notes don’t have authors, you would cite the editor of the whole study Bible.

Footnote for a general study bible:

1. NIV Study Bible, ed. Kenneth L. Barker (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 1678.

Bibliography Entry:

Barker, Kenneth L., ed. NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.

The main point is this: if you cite scripture, use the scripture rule. If you cite a note about the scripture, on the other hand, cite it like a book.

How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style for Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical Books

The Apocrypha are books in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in most Protestant Bibles. Citing them uses the exact same format. Your knowledge of how to cite the Bible Chicago style applies here perfectly.

You just use the name of the book like any other.

Example Footnotes:

1. Tobit 4:7-11 (New Revised Standard Version).
2. 1 Maccabees 3:1-9 (New American Bible).

There is no special rule here. Just know that your reader might not be familiar with these books. Therefore, make sure to cite the version you used. The official Chicago Manual of Style Online has the final say on these details, but it requires a subscription.

Mastering Punctuation for Chicago Style Bible Citations

The punctuation in your citations must be correct. So, here is a short guide for anyone learning how to cite the bible chicago.

• A range of verses: Use an en dash (–), not a hyphen (-).
  • Correct: John 3:16–18.
  • Incorrect: John 3:16-18.
• Verses that are not in a row: In this case, use commas.
  • Example: Ezekiel 37:1, 5, 7.
• A passage that crosses chapters: Show the start chapter and verse, then the end chapter and verse.
  • Example: Exodus 12:48–13:3.
• A whole chapter or chapters:
  • A whole chapter: Luke 15.
  • Multiple chapters: Genesis 1–2.

Getting these small details right shows you are a careful writer.

Using In-Text Parenthetical Citations for the Bible in Chicago Style

Sometimes, a full footnote is too much, especially if you refer to the Bible many times in a paragraph. In these cases, Chicago style lets you use short citations in parentheses.

You can do this after you have already given one full footnote. This method is a key part of knowing how to cite the bible chicago.

How It Works:

Simply put the short book name, chapter, and verse(s) in parentheses. Then, place it at the end of your sentence.

Example:

The apostle Paul says that love is patient and kind (1 Cor. 13:4). He also adds that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Cor. 13:7).

The version is not in the parentheses because the reader knows which version you are using from your first full footnote.

This method helps your writing flow better. Plus, it also keeps your page from looking too crowded.

Common Mistakes When You Cite the Bible in Chicago Style

I have seen many student papers, and a few common mistakes appear often. Here is a list to help you avoid them as you learn how to cite the bible chicago.

• Forgetting the Version: This is the biggest error. Your citation is not complete without the version.
• Using a Comma Instead of a Colon: Remember, it is always Chapter:Verse.
• Adding the Bible to the Bibliography When Not Needed: Unless you have a good reason, save the space for your other sources.
• Not Being Consistent: For example, if you use Gen. for Genesis once, use it every time.
• Citing Study Bible Notes as Scripture: Always remember, the notes are a separate work. You should cite them like a book.

Final Thoughts on How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style: Citing with Purpose

Learning how to cite the Bible Chicago style is not just a chore. In fact, it is about being clear, correct, and respectful to your reader. When you cite the right way, you help others follow your research and take part in a long history of learning.

It might seem like a lot to remember at first. I certainly felt that way too. But after you do it a few times, the process will feel natural. You can make a short guide for yourself from this article. Keep it near when you write, and check it before you are done.

FAQ – How to Cite the Bible Chicago Style