How to Format a Manuscript With a Scripture Verse
- 1). Choose one version of the Bible for the majority of your scripture quotations and identify that version at the beginning of the manuscript; for example: "Bible verses are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted."
- 2). Indent the citation within the body of the text. Place the citation between parentheses. Abbreviate the name of the book, then cite the chapter and verse, using numbers and separating them with a period:
Ezekiel saw "what seemed to be four living creatures," each with faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (Ezek 1.5-10). - 3). Use the standard abbreviation if you quote material from a different version of the Bible than you've cited as the main version used: (John 3:16, NIV).
- 4). Use a comma followed by a space when quoting citations from two or more verses that are not in sequential order: (John 3:16, 18).
- 5). Use an en-dash when quoting citations taken from three or more verses simultaneously: (John 3:16-18).
- 6). Use a semicolon when quoting separate citations taken from different chapters or books: (John 3:15, 17; 5:10) (John 3:15; Luke 11:4).