What is SBL Style?
The Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) style is primarily used in religious and theological studies. It is outlined in the SBL Handbook of Style, 2nd edition, and is often required in seminaries and biblical studies programs.
Key Features of SBL Style
- Footnotes and Bibliography: Unlike APA, SBL primarily uses footnotes for citations rather than in-text citations.
- Reference List: Also known as a bibliography, this section includes all sources cited in footnotes.
- Different Formats for Ancient Texts: SBL has specialized rules for citing the Bible, ancient texts, and classical works.
- Abbreviations: SBL style provides specific abbreviations for biblical books (e.g., Gen. for Genesis, Matt. for Matthew).
- Example Citation:
- Footnote: John Smith, Theological Foundations (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), 45.
- Bibliography: Smith, John. Theological Foundations. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019.
Common Mistakes in SBL Style
- Improper Footnote Formatting: Footnotes should include full citations on first reference, but some mistakenly shorten all footnotes.
- Failing to Abbreviate Biblical Books: Incorrectly writing “Genesis” instead of “Gen.” in footnotes.
- Misplacing Punctuation: Incorrect comma and period placement within footnotes and bibliography entries.
- Inconsistent Bibliography Entries: Sources in the bibliography should follow a consistent format but are often inconsistently structured.
- Not Differentiating Primary and Secondary Sources: Biblical texts should not be listed in the bibliography but should be cited within footnotes.
Best Practices for SBL Style
- Use footnote tools in word processors to format citations correctly.
- Follow SBL abbreviations and formatting for biblical texts and classical works.
- Maintain a well-organized bibliography, ensuring each entry is complete and correctly formatted.
- Review institutional guidelines, as some universities modify SBL slightly.
Which Style Should You Use?
- If you are an AIIAS student and are writing on education, business, public health, and applied theology, use APA style.
- If you are in theological or biblical studies, use SBL style.
- In publishing your work, always check your publisher’s guidelines for preferred citation styles.
