citation examples for theological works

1 Fall 2013

Citation Examples for Theological Works

Prepared by Chuck Harris

Providence University College and Theological Seminary Library

Otterburne, MB

Fall 2013

Many works in Christian theology are unique or challenging in the way they are cited, yet the

various style manuals rarely provide the specific detail you need to cite clearly and accurately.

The examples given below will help alleviate this difficulty by demonstrating how to construct

the more common but challenging citations.

The Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................................... 2

Footnote and In-Text Citations .............................................................................................................................. 2

John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion ............................................................................................ 3 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... 3

SBL ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Turabian ................................................................................................................................................................ 3

MLA ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiæ ..................................................................................................................... 4 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... 4

SBL ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Turabian ................................................................................................................................................................ 5

MLA ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Church Fathers ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

SBL ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Turabian ................................................................................................................................................................ 7

MLA ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Ecumenical Decrees ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

SBL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Turabian .............................................................................................................................................................. 11

MLA .................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics ............................................................................................................................. 12 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 12

SBL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Turabian .............................................................................................................................................................. 13

MLA .................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Commentaries ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 SBL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Turabian .............................................................................................................................................................. 15

MLA .................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Dictionary and Encyclopedia Articles ................................................................................................................. 15 SBL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Turabian .............................................................................................................................................................. 16

MLA .................................................................................................................................................................... 16

E-Books .................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Works Consulted ................................................................................................................................................... 17

2 Providence Library │ Citation Examples

The Bibliography

Because theological works now appear in many different editions and translations descended

from the original work, or as a part of multivolume series, you will find that there are many

specific details you need to include about the source you are using in order to give proper credit.

These are details such as the author, editor, translator, publisher, edition, date of publication,

volume number, etc. Even though many of these details can often be omitted from the footnote

or in-text citations, they must be included in the bibliography. Be as specific and detailed as

your citation style allows. You will see specific examples below of bibliographic entries for the

different works to help guide you regarding your bibliographic entries.

Footnote and In-Text Citations

Usually, in the footnote/in-text citations of theological works you need only cite the original

author and title of the work to which you are referring as well as the locating information

specific to your reference (e.g., the paragraph number or page number) . While normally SBL

and Turabian footnote styles require the first reference to a work to include all the publication

details, it is permissible to omit such detail in the initial references for some well-known works.

However, if the edition/translation of the work has some relevance to the content of your

research, then you should include a full first citation as required by the appropriate style

guidelines. Or, in a larger project like a thesis or dissertation, you may prefer a fuller first

citation.

For SBL or Turabian, your first reference to a work should include the full name of the author

and the full title, followed by the locating information. Subsequent references need only include

the last name of the author and an abbreviated title as per accepted standards (see SBL Handbook

of Style, § 8.3 or “Appendix H” for a thorough list of abbreviations for primary and ancient

sources). MLA (as well as the parenthetical style of Turabian) allows for such abbreviations

immediately. For a thesis or dissertation you should keep a record of all the abbreviations that

you use and include this in a table of abbreviations in the front matter of your project.

One of the most notable differences between citing some of the classic works and citing the more

typical books and articles is the use of book, chapter, and section numbers as locating

information rather than page numbers. This is because different editions of the same work will

space out the content differently over a span of pages. Citing by section or paragraph numbers

allows a reader of your research to follow your citation even if they are using a different edition

with different page numbers.

There is some variation in the accepted styles for citing theological texts, but the examples below

will help you understand the logic behind these citations.

3 Fall 2013

John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Summary

The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin consists of four “Books” which are

divided into chapters. These chapters are further divided into sections. Any particular

translation or edition of the work can divide The Institutes differently into volumes or choose

to abridge the content, but the book, chapter, and section numbers will remain the same

across all editions.

Use the bibliography to cite the information pertaining to the edition, translation, number of

volumes, and publisher. This is similar to the way you would cite any other book in your

bibliography.

In the in-text/footnote citations you will need to indicate the author, title of the work

(abbreviated), book, chapter, and section. You will do this instead of citing the page number.

Depending on the formatting style you are using, your citation should be similar to this:

Calvin, Instit. 2.4.7

*Remember that the book number is not the same as the volume number. The volume

number can vary from one edition/translation to the next, but the book number will be

consistent across all editions/translations.

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion 2.4.7.

2 Calvin, Instit. 2.4.7.

Bibliography (book):

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Edited by John T. McNeill. Translated by

Ford Lewis Battles. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960.

Bibliography (online source):

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Henry Beveridge. London:

Arnold Hatfield, for Bonham Norton, 1599. Cited 8 October 2013. Online:

http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/institutes/institutes.html.

Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion 2.4.7.

2 Calvin, Instit. 2.4.7.

Book Chapter Section



Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Edited by John T. McNeill. Translated by

Ford Lewis Battles. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960.


Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Henry Beveridge. London:

Arnold Hatfield, for Bonham Norton, 1599.

http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/institutes/institutes.html (accessed October 8, 2013).

MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Calvin, Instit. 2.4.7)


Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Ed. John T. McNeill. Trans. Ford Lewis

Battles. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960. Print.


Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Trans. Henry Beveridge. London: Arnold

Hatfield, for Bonham Norton, 1599. Internet resource. 8 Oct. 2013.

<http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/institutes/institutes.html>.

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiæ

Summary

Summa Theologiæ by Thomas Aquinas is divided into three different parts which are divided

into questions which are further divided into articles. Any particular translation or edition

can divide Summa Theologiæ differently into volumes or choose to abridge the content.

Use the bibliography to cite the information pertaining to the edition, translation, number of

volumes, and publisher. This is similar to the way you would cite any other book in your

bibliography. You may also prefer to cite a single volume rather than an entire multivolume

set. Do this if only one volume was used in your research. If you used multiple volumes

then you should cite the entire set in your bibliography.


(abbreviated), part number, question number, and article number. You will do this instead of

citing the page number.

The part numbers can be abbreviated according to one of these two styles:

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Part Number Option 1 Option 2

Part I I Ia

First part of Part II I-II Ia-IIæ

Second part of Part II II-II IIa-IIæ

Part III III IIIa

There is no uniform style for citing Summa Theologiæ, but the following is a proper example

of what is permissible:

Aquinas, Sum Ia, Q. 2, Art. 2

*With Summa Theologiæ you should also pay close attention to the way the title is written on

the edition you are using. It may also be written as Summa Theologiae or Summa

Theologica. Your citations should match the edition you are using.

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Ia, Q. 2, Art. 2.

2 Aquinas, Sum Ia, Q. 2, Art. 2.


Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican

Province. 5 vols. Westminster, Md.: Christian Classics, 1948.



Province. Benziger Bros. ed. Westminster, Md.: Christian Classics, 1947. Cited 8

October 2013. Online: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.html.

Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica Ia, Q. 2, Art. 2.

2 Aquinas, Sum Ia, Q. 2, Art. 2.



Province. 5 vols. Westminster, MD: Christian Classics, 1948.



Province. Benziger Bros. ed. Westminster, MD: Christian Classics, 1947.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.html (accessed October 8, 2013).

Part Question Article


MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Aquinas, Sum Ia, Q. 2, Art. 2)


Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province. 5

vols. Westminster: Christian Classics, 1948. Print.


Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province.

Benziger Bros. ed. Westminster: Christian Classics, 1947. Internet resource. 8 Oct.

2013. <http://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.html>.

Church Fathers

Summary

Most often when citing the Church Fathers you will be citing from either The Ante-Nicene

Fathers (ANF) or The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (first or second series; NPNF1 or 2).

Use the bibliography to indicate which series you are using in addition to the original author

and title of the work. Alternatively, SBL prefers that you cite only the series in your

bibliography (rather than the specific work of the church father), though, if it is relevant, you

can choose to cite the specific work within the series.

The footnote/in-text citations should include the author (if possible), the title of the writing,

and, as applicable, the book, chapter/letter number, and section number. You may also

choose to include the series, volume number, and page number in parentheses. Citing the

page number in this way may be helpful if the chapters are long and the paragraphs are not

enumerated. You should also use Arabic numerals rather than Roman numerals even if

Roman numerals are used in the edition you are citing. Your footnote/in-text citations should

be similar to these:

Augustin, Conf. 5.11.21

Cyril, Catechetical Lectures 17.7

If you choose to include the series, volume number, and page number, your citations should

appear similar to the following examples:

Book Chapter Paragraph

Lecture Paragraph

7 Fall 2013

Augustin, Conf. 5.11.21 (NPNF1 1:87).

Cyril, Catechetical Lectures 17.7 (NPNF2 7:125-26).

You may cite the Church Fathers using different sources than ANF or NPNF1 or 2, but your

citations should still remain similar to the examples given above. Remember to make

adjustments for the unique qualities of the work you are using and to include the appropriate

source details in your bibliography.

*Names like Augustin can have alternative spellings (like Augustine). Your citations should

match the spellings of names as they appear in the work you are citing.

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Augustin, The Confessions of St. Augustin 5.11.21.

2 Augustin, Conf. 5.11.21.


The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. 1886-1889. 14 vols.

Repr. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 1956.

OR

Augustin. The Confessions of St. Augustin. Translated by J. G. Pilkington. In vol. 1 of The

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. 1886-1889. 14

vols. Repr. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 1956.


The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. 1886-1889. 14 vols.

Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1886. Cited 8 October 2013. Online:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf101.html.

OR


Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. 1886-1889. 14

vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1886. Cited 8 October 2013. Online:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf101.html.

Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Augustin, The Confessions of St. Augustin 5.11.21.

Series Volume Page Number(s)


2 Augustin, Conf. 5.11.21.



Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, edited by Philip Schaff. 14 vols. Grand

Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1956.



Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, edited by Philip Schaff. 14 vols. Grand

Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1886. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf101.html

(accessed October 8, 2013).

MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Augustin, Conf. 5.11.21)

OR

(Augustin, 5.11.21)


Augustin. The Confessions of St. Augustin. Trans. J. G. Pilkington. Grand Rapids: Wm. B.

Eerdmans, 1956. Print. Vol. 1 of The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1.

Philip Schaff, ed. 14 vols. 1886-1889.


Augustin. The Confessions of St. Augustin. Trans. J. G. Pilkington. Grand Rapids: Wm. B.

Eerdmans, 1886. Internet Resource. 8 Oct. 2013.

<http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf101.html>. Vol. 1 of The Nicene and Post-

Nicene Fathers, Series 1. Philip Schaff, ed. 14 vols. 1886-1889.

Ecumenical Decrees

Summary

The ecumenical decrees are collected from twenty-one councils, starting with Nicaea I in 325

and ending with Vatican II in 1965.

Use the bibliography to cite the information pertaining to the edition, translation, and

publisher of the work you are using. This is similar to the way you would cite any other

book in your bibliography. Depending on the breadth of your research and citations, you

should cite the work in your bibliography in one of the following ways:

If you are citing only one decree from an edited work, cite the decree specifically in

your bibliography. Similarly, you may also choose to specifically cite a session.

9 Fall 2013

If you are citing multiple decrees from one council, then you only need to cite the

council in your bibliography.

If you are citing from multiple councils of one edited work, then you need to cite the

edited work in your bibliography rather than each council.

When you cite the title of a decree you can choose to include both the Latin and English titles

or just one form of the title. Your choice should accurately represent the work you are citing

(i.e., if the work only gives the English title, you should not include the Latin title in your

citation) as well as the language you are citing from (i.e., if you quote an English translation,

do not include only the Latin title in your citation). Latin decree titles should be italicized

but English ones should not.

In the footnote/in-text citations you will need to indicate the council, session, date, decree

title, chapter number (if applicable), and appropriate detail on the specific edition you are

citing, including the page number(s). In you initial references you can also choose to include

both the Latin and English decree titles or just one form of the title. Subsequent references

should only use one of the titles. If you use only a Latin title, abbreviate “chapter” as “cap.”,

otherwise abbreviate it as “ch.” (SBL, MLA) or “chap.” (Turabian, MLA).

There is some flexibility in the appearance of citations for decrees, but, in general, they

should appear similar to this:

Council of Trent, Session 24, 11 November 1563, Canons of the reform of marriage,

ch. 6, 2:758

If your bibliographic entry is a collected work (rather than specifically the decree, session, or

council), then your citation will need to include enough information to link the citation to the

bibliographic entry. For example, include the editor and abbreviated title of the work:


ch. 6: Tanner, Decrees, 2:758

If you are citing from an online source where the council is a standalone work, then you can

do without any information pertaining to the edition (though this information is still

important in the bibliography). For example:


ch. 6

Council Session Date of Session Title of Decree

Chapter within Decree Volume and Page Number of Source

Editor Title


In MLA you can shorten your in-text citation as much as necessary, making sure to include

the most essential information as well as enough information to link the citation to the entry

in the bibliography.

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Council of Trent, Session 24, 11 November 1563, Canones super reformation circa

matrimonium, Canons on the reform of marriage, ch. 6, in vol. 2 of Decrees of the

Ecumenical Councils (ed. Norman Tanner; 2 vols.; Washington, D.C.: Sheed and Ward,

1990), 758.

2 Council of Trent, Session 24, 11 November 1563, Canons of the reform of marriage,

ch. 6: Tanner, Decrees, 2:758.

OR

2 Council of Trent, Session 24, 11 November 1563, Canons of the reform of marriage,

ch. 6, 2:758.


Trent, Council of. Canones super reformation circa matrimonium, Canons on the reform of

marriage. Session 24, 11 November 1563. Pages 755-59 in vol. 2 of Decrees of the

Ecumenical Councils. Edited by Norman Tanner. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: Sheed

and Ward, 1990.

OR

Trent, Council of. “Council of Trent: 1545 – 1563.” Pages 656-799 in vol. 2 of Decrees of

the Ecumenical Councils. Edited by Norman Tanner. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.:

Sheed and Ward, 1990.

OR

Tanner, Norman, ed. Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. 2 vols. Washington, D.C.: Sheed

and Ward, 1990.


Trent, Council of. “The Twenty-Fourth Session.” 11 November 1563. Pages 193-232 in The

Canons and Decrees of the Sacred and Oecumenical Council of Trent. Edited and

Translated by J. Waterworth. London: Dolman, 1848. Cited 8 October 2013. Online:

http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct24.html.

11 Fall 2013

Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Council of Trent, Session 24, November 11, 1563, Canones super reformation circa

matrimonium, Canons on the reform of marriage, chap. 6, in Decrees of the Ecumenical

Councils, ed. Norman Tanner, vol. 2 (Washington, DC: Sheed and Ward, 1990), 758.

2 Council of Trent, Session 24, November 11, 1563, Canons of the reform of

marriage, chap. 6: Tanner, Decrees, 2:758.

OR

2 Council of Trent, Session 24, November 11, 1563, Canons of the reform of

marriage, chap. 6, 2:758.



marriage. Session 24, November 11, 1563. In vol. 2 of Decrees of the Ecumenical

Councils, edited by Norman Tanner, 755-59. 2 vols. Washington, DC: Sheed and

Ward, 1990.

OR

Trent, Council of. “Council of Trent: 1545 – 1563.” In vol. 2 of Decrees of the Ecumenical

Councils, edited by Norman Tanner, 656-799. 2 vols. Washington, DC: Sheed and

Ward, 1990.

OR

Tanner, Norman, ed. Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. 2 vols. Washington, DC: Sheed

and Ward, 1990.


Trent, Council of. “The Twenty-Fourth Session.” 11 November 1563. In The Canons and

Decrees of the Sacred and Oecumenical Council of Trent, edited and translated by J.

Waterworth, 193-232. London: Dolman, 1848.

http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct24.html (accessed October 8, 2013).

MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Council of Trent, Session 24, Canons of the reform of marriage, ch. 6: Tanner, 2:758)

OR

(Council of Trent, Session 24, 2:758)


OR

(Council of Trent: Tanner, 2:758)



marriage. Session 24, 11 Nov. 1563. Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. Ed.

Norman Tanner. 2 vols. Washington, DC: Sheed and Ward, 1990. 2:755-59. Print.

OR

Trent, Council of. “Council of Trent: 1545 – 1563.” Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. Ed.

Norman Tanner. 2 vols. Washington: Sheed and Ward, 1990. 2:656-799. Print.

OR

Tanner, Norman, ed. Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. 2 vols. Washington: Sheed and

Ward, 1990. Print.


Trent, Council of. “The Twenty-Fourth Session.” 11 November 1563. The Canons and

Decrees of the Sacred and Oecumenical Council of Trent. Ed. and trans. J.

Waterworth. London: Dolman, 1848. 193-232. Internet resource. 8 Oct. 2013.

<http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct24.html>.

Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics

Summary

Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth consists of four “Volumes”, but each volume actually has

multiple parts so that the original T&T Clark edition of Church Dogmatics consists of

thirteen bound volumes plus a separately bound index.

Use the bibliography to cite the information pertaining to the edition, translation, and

publisher. This is similar to the way you would cite any other book in your bibliography.

You should also cite either the individual volume you are using (if you are using only one) or

the entire set (if you are using multiple volumes).


(abbreviated), volume, part, section, and sub-section. You can also choose to include the

page number(s). The volume number should be indicated in Roman numerals while all other

numbers should be in Arabic numerals. Depending on the formatting style you are using,

your citation should be similar to this:

13 Fall 2013

Barth, CD IV/2, §65.1

If you include the page number it should look like this:

Barth, CD IV/2, §65.1, 382

Volume IV, Part 3 has two “halves”. While the specific half you use need not be indicated

because the pagination is continuous from the first half into the second half, you can choose

to indicate the half you are using like this:

Barth, CD IV/3.2, §71.1

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/2, §65.1, 382.

2 Barth, CD IV/2, §65.1, 382.

Bibliography:

Barth, Karl. The Doctrine of Reconciliation. Vol. 4.2 of Church Dogmatics. Edited by G. W.

Bromiley and T. F. Torrance. Translated by G. W. Bromiley. Edinburgh: T&T Clark,

1958.

OR

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. 4 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1936-1977.

*Because the editors and translators vary between the volumes, this information cannot be

included in the bibliography when you cite the work as a whole.

Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/2, §65.1, 382.

2 Barth, CD IV/2, §65.1, 382.

Bibliography:

Barth, Karl. The Doctrine of Reconciliation. Vol. 4.2 of Church Dogmatics. Edited by G. W.

Bromiley and T. F. Torrance. Translated by G. W. Bromiley. Edinburgh: T&T Clark,

1958.

OR

Volume Part Section Sub-section

Half


Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. 4 vols. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1936-1977.



MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Barth, CD IV/2, §65.1, 382)

Bibliography:

Bath, Karl. The Doctrine of Reconciliation. Ed. G. W. Bromiley and T. F. Torrance. Trans.

G. W. Bromiley. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1958. Print. Vol. 4.2 of Church

Dogmatics. 4 vols. 1936-1977.

OR

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. 4 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1936-1977.



Commentaries

In general, commentaries should be cited like any other book, however citing commentaries can

be difficult because of the common inclusion of a series title and volume number. This

information should be included in the bibliographic entry, and in SBL and Turabian, it should be

included in the initial footnote reference. Abbreviation of the series title is permissible and even

preferred in SBL footnotes (see SBL Handbook of Style §8.4.1 and §8.4.2 for accepted

abbreviations). It is not necessary to include the editor of a commentary series.

*The series title should not be confused with the title of the book. Also, one should note that

there is a difference between a series and a multivolume work. Commentaries are typically parts

of series, not multivolume works (though it is possible to have a multivolume set within a series).

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Jacob M. Myers, I Chronicles: Introduction, Translation, and Notes (AB 12; Garden

City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1965), 104.

2 Myers, I Chronicles, 104.

15 Fall 2013

Bibliography

Myers, Jacob M. I Chronicles: Introduction, Translation, and Notes. Anchor Bible 12;

Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1965.

Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Jacob M. Myers, I Chronicles: Introduction, Translation, and Notes, Anchor Bible

12 (Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1965), 104.

2 Myers, I Chronicles, 104.

Bibliography

Myers, Jacob M. I Chronicles: Introduction, Translation, and Notes. Anchor Bible 12.

Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1965.

MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Myers 104)

Bibliography

Myers, Jacob M. I Chronicles: Introduction, Translation, and Notes. Garden City:

Doubleday and Company, 1965. Print. Anchor Bible 12.

Dictionary and Encyclopedia Articles

Dictionary and encyclopedia articles are typically longer, defining or descriptive entries within

edited works. Each entry usually has its own author. As such, the article should be cited directly

rather than the work as a whole.

The author(s) of the article is typically listed at the end of the article. Sometimes only the initials

are given. In this case the full name can be determined by looking at a list of contributors

(usually in the front matter of the volume, or in the first volume of a multivolume set). In SBL

the title of the dictionary/encyclopedia may be abbreviated in the initial footnote.

SBL

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Nikolaus Thon, “Modern Church History,” The Encyclopedia of Christianity 3:589.

2 Thon, “Modern Church History,” 3:589.

Bibliography

Thon, Nikolaus. “Modern Church History.” Pages 588-605 in vol. 3 of The Encyclopedia of

Christianity. Edited by Erwin Fahlbusch et al. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, Mich.:

Eerdmans, 2003.


Turabian

Footnote (initial and subsequent references): 1 Nikolaus Thon, “Modern Church History,” in The Encyclopedia of Christianity, ed.

Erwin Fahlbusch et al. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,

2003), 3:589.

2 Thon, “Modern Church History,” 3:589.

Bibliography

Thon, Nikolaus. “Modern Church History.” In vol. 3 of The Encyclopedia of Christianity,

edited by Erwin Fahlbusch et al., 588-605. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: William B.

Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003.

MLA

In-Text Citation:

(Thon 3:589)

Bibliography

Thon, Nikolaus. “Modern Church History.” The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Ed. Erwin

Fahlbusch et al. Vol. 3. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,

2003. Print.

E-Books

The citations for e-books will be similar to the format required of regular books. When citing an

e-book be sure to cite the format of the e-book in your bibliography (e.g., CD-ROM, Amazon

Kindle, Sony Reader, Kobo, iBooks, etc.). Your entry should look similar to this:

Luther, Martin. Commentary on Galatians. Oxford: Acheron Press, 2012. Amazon

Kindle e-book.

In footnote/in-text citations you do not need to include any indication of the work being an e-

book. Here you can cite the work as you would any other book. However, be wary of location

numbers provided by an e-reader device. These location numbers may not be consistent with

other formats of the book. For example, the Amazon Kindle uses location numbers, but these

numbers can vary depending on simple changes such as font and display. In general, location

numbers should not be used in citations as a replacement for page numbers. If the page numbers

are available, cite them. If not, cite the chapter and paragraph number (you most likely will have

to manually count them). For example (in Turabian):

1 Martin Luther, Commentary on Galations (Oxford: Acheron Press, 2012), chap.

2, para. 2.

17 Fall 2013

Works Consulted

Alexander, Patrick H., John F. Kutsko, James D. Ernest, Shirley A. Decker-Lucke, and David L.

Petersen, eds. The SBL Handbook of Style: For Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early

Christian Studies. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999.

Beaumont, Doug. “Citing the Summa Theologiæ of St. Thomas Aquinas.” Soul Device (weblog).

Entry posted on September 21, 2010. http://souldevice.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/citing-

thomas-aquinas%E2%80%99s-summa-theologiae/ (accessed October 15, 2013).

Center for Theological Writing (Westminster Theological Seminary). Citation & Formatting

Guide. Fall 2013 ed. Glenside, PA: Westminster Theological Seminary, 2013.

http://files.wts.edu/uploads/images/files/CTW/CTW%20Resource_Citation%20and%20F

ormatting%20Guide_Fall%202013.pdf (accessed October 8, 2013).

Chicago Manual of Style, The. 16th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010.

Lipson, Charles. Cite Right: A Quick Guide to Citation Styles—MLA, APA, Chicago, the

Sciences, Professions, and More. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011.

Modern Language Association of America. MLA Handbook of Research Papers. 7th ed. New

York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2009.

Nogalski, Melanie Greer, James D. Nogalski, Sophia G. Steibel, and Danny M. West. “Student

Supplement for The SBL Handbook of Style.” Edited by Joel M. LeMon. Revised by

Bonnie Proctor. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University, 2007.

http://www.andrews.edu/grad/documents/sbl_handbook.pdf (accessed November 5,

2013).

Rowell, Andy. “Citing Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics.” Church Leadership Conversations

(weblog). Entry posted on August 30, 2011.

http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2011/08/citing-karl-barths-church-

dogmatics.html (accessed October 29, 2013).

School of Canon Law. School of Canon Law Style Sheet. Revised 2013. Washington, DC: School

of Canon Law, 2013.

http://canonlaw.cua.edu/res/docs/Student%20Handbook%20Style%20Sheet%20%20201

3_5_2_13.pdf (accessed November 2, 2013).

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago

Style for Students and Researchers. 7th ed. Revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G.

Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, and University of Chicago Press editorial staff. Chicago:

University of Chicago Press, 2007.

Walker, Janice R., and Todd Taylor. The Columbia Guide to Online Style. New York: Columbia

University Press, 1998.

citation examples for theological works

Documents