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Citing the Bible and other Biblical Resources

This guide will help users cite the Bible, and Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, commentaries, and atlases.

A Note on Citing Commentaries

NOTE: When citing Bible commentaries, it is important to understand that commentaries are simply books. To cite them properly, you need to identify what type of book it is.

This page provides you with some of the most common examples, including these types of print and online sources:

  • A Chapter in an Edited Book in a Multi-Volume Work (Print)
  • A Book in a Series (Print)
  • One Volume of a Multivolume Work (Web)
  • A Commentary from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Web)

A Chapter in an Edited Book in a Multi-Volume Work (Print)


A Chapter in an Edited Book in a Multi-Volume Work (Print)
(Such as the Expositor’s Bible Commentary or New Interpreter’s Bible.)
Click here for help deciphering the elements of this citation.

APA

Longenecker, R. N. (1981). Acts. In F. E. Gæbelein (Ed.), The expositor’s Bible
     commentary: With the New International Version: Vol. 9. John and Acts
     (pp. 205-573). Zondervan.

MLA

Longenecker, Richard N.  “Acts.” John and Acts, 1981, pp. 205-573.
     The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: With the New International Version,
     general editor, Frank E. Gæbelein, vol. 9, Zondervan, 1976-92. 12  vols.

Turabian

Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Longenecker, Richard N. “Acts.” In John and Acts, vol. 9, The Expositor’s
     Bible Commentary: With the New International Version, edited by Frank E.
     Gæbelein, 205-573. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical citations):
Longnecker, Richard N. 1981. "Acts." In John and Acts, vol. 9, The Expositor’s
     Bible Commentary: With the New International Version, edited by Frank E.
     Gæbelein, 205-573. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Chicago

Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Longenecker, Richard N. “Acts.” In John and Acts. Vol. 9 of The Expositor’s
     Bible Commentary: With the New International Version, edited by Frank E.
     Gæbelein, 205-573. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical references):
Longenecker, Richard N. 1981. "Acts." In John and Acts. Vol. 9 of The
     Expositor's Bible Commentary: With the New International Version, edited
     by Frank E. Gæbelein, 205-573. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

A Book in a Series (Print)


A Book in a Series (Print)
(Such as the NIV Application Commentary, NICOT, or NICNT)

APA

Enns, P. (2000). Exodus (T. Muck, Ed.). Zondervan.
 

MLA

Enns, Peter. Exodus. Edited by Terry Muck, Zondervan, 2000. The NIV Application
     Commentary Series. 

Turabian

Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Enns, Peter. Exodus. NIV Application Commentary Series, edited by Terry Muck. Grand
     Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical citations):
Enns, Peter. 2000. Exodus. NIV Application Commentary Series, edited by Terry Muck.
     Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Chicago

Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Enns, Peter. Exodus. The NIV Application Commentary Series. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical references):
Enns, Peter. 2000. Exodus. The NIV Application Commentary Series. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

One Volume of a Multivolume Work (Web)


One Volume of a Multivolume Work (Web)
(Original publication date and online publisher only)
Click here for help deciphering the elements of this citation. 

APA
 
Henry, M. (1706). Matthew Henry commentary on the whole Bible (complete) (Vol. 1).
     Bible Study Tools. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-
     henry-complete/genesis/ 

MLA
 
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Vol. 1, 1706. 
     Bible Study Tools, www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/. 

Turabian
 
Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Vol. 1. 
     N.p., 1706. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/genesis/.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical citations):
Henry, Matthew. 1706. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Vol. 1.
     N.p. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry complete/genesis/.

Chicago
 
Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Vol. 1.
     N.p., 1706. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/genesis/.
 
Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical references): 
Henry, Matthew. 1706. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Vol. 1.
      N.p. http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/genesis/.

Note: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible comprises 6 volumes. To determine which volume you used, refer to the following list:

  • Vol 1. -- Genesis to Deuteronomy
  • Vol. 2 -- Joshua to Esther
  • Vol. 3 -- Job to Song of Solomon
  • Vol. 4 -- Isaiah to Malachi
  • Vol. 5 -- Matthew to John
  • Vol. 6 -- Acts to Revelation

Commentary from Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Web)


Commentary from Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Web) 
(No known publication date)

APA

Calvin, J. (n.d.). Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans (J.Owen,
     Ed. & Trans.). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Retrieved March 17, 2011, from
     http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.i.html

MLA

Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Translated and
     edited by John Owen, CCEL, n.d. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org/
     ccel/calvin/calcom38.i.html. Accessed 17 Mar. 2011.

Turabian

Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Translated
     and edited by John Owen. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d.
     Accessed March 17, 2011. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.i.html.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical citations):
Calvin, John. n.d. Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans.
     Translated and edited by John Owen. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
     Accessed March 17, 2011. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.i.html.

Chicago

Bibliography Style (accompanies notes):
Calvin, John. Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Translated
     and edited by John Owen. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d.
     http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.i.html.

Reference List Style (accompanies parenthetical references):
Calvin, John. n.d. Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans.
     Translated and edited by John Owen. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal
     Library. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom38.i.html.