The MLA (Modern Language Association) citation language is frequently used in the liberal arts and humanities fields. In the MLA style, a parenthetical citation directs the reader to a more complete list in the bibliography at the end of your paper. Citing the bible is a bit more complicated because it does not have an author like most books, it also has a more complex format. But if you follow these simple steps, then you will be able to quote the bible in your bibliography and in the text you write instantly.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Quote the Bible in Text
Step 1. Write the quote or sentence quoted
Open quotation marks before starting to write, and close them at the end of the quotation. If necessary you can introduce the quote with a couple of sentences.
Example: Paul advises Christians "do not settle for this world."
Step 2. Open parentheses and write the name of the version of the bible
Write it in italics followed by a comma.
Example: Paul advises Christians to "don't settle for this world" ("standard Spanish version",
Step 3. Write the name of the book
If you abbreviate it, you must put a period at the end. Give it a period after writing the name or abbreviation of the book.
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Example: Paul advises Christians to "don't settle for this world" ("standard Spanish version", Rom.
There are many common abbreviations for books in the bible, such as "Gen." for "Genesis", "Exod." for "Exodus," "Lev." for "Leviticus," "No." for "Numbers," and "Deut." for "Deuteronomy."
Step 4. Write the chapter number and verse
Write the chapter, followed by a period, followed by the number of the verse (Example: 1.5). If the quote spans more than one verse, then write the number of the first verse, followed by a dash (-), followed by the last verse of the quote (Example: 1.5-9). Close the parentheses when done.
Example: Paul advises Christians to "do not settle for this world" ("standard Spanish version", Rom. 12.2)
Step 5. Make a final point
This completes the first date.
Example: Paul advises Christians to "don't settle for this world" ("standard Spanish version", Rom. 12.2)
Step 6. Cite other verses from the same bible
After writing the first bible quote, you can write all subsequent quotes with the same method, except without including the name of the bible version.
- Example: Jesus says, "So then, whatever you want men to do to you, so do you also to them" (Matt. 7.12).
- If you enter another version of the bible, then you will have to make the distinction between the two versions, but if you only use one version of the bible (which is the preferred method) then you don't need to quote the version of the bible more than once in the text.
Method 2 of 2: Cite the Bible in Bibliography
Step 1. Write the name of the edition of the bible you are using
Do it in italics and followed by a period.
Example: The New Oxford Annotated Bible
Step 2. Enter the name of the publisher (s)
Prepend the publisher's name with the abbreviation Ed. And write his name followed by a period. You don't need to italicize the author's name.
Example: The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Ed. Michael D. Coogan
Step 3. Write the name of the place where the publication was published
Followed by a colon and a space. You can likely find this information in the first few pages of the book.
Example: The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Ed. Michael D. Coogan. New York:
Step 4. Write the name of the publisher
You can also probably find this information in the first few pages of the book. Follow the name of the publisher with a comma.
Example: "The New Annotated Oxford Bible." Ed. Michael D. Coogan. New York: Oxford University Press,
Step 5. Write the year of publication
Followed by a period.
Example: The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Ed. Michael D. Coogan. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007
Step 6. Indicate if the version is printed or online
If it is a printed version, just write "printed" at the end followed by a period. If it is an online version, write "web" at the end followed by a period.