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Table of Contents

Abbreviations
Bibliographical Forms
Capitalization
General Rules for Journal Writers
Headings
Use of Italics
Page Numbering
Punctuation
Ellipses

Abbreviations

1. The following common abbreviations may be used: e.g., i.e., (w/ comma), viz., ibid. (w/ period; period and comma; roman), cf., c. (circa). These are always roman, not ital.).

2. Other common abbreviations: chap(s). for "chapter(s)," col(s). for "column(s)," ep(s). for "epistle(s)," frg(s). for "fragment(s)," pl(s). for "plate(s)," n(n). for "note(s)." Use p(p). for "page(s)," in the text, but NOT in footnotes. For "verse(s)," use v or vv (w/out periods). Avoid Roman numerals whenever possible.

3. The following are NOT to be used: op. cit., loc. cit., and art. cit. Instead, use a shortened title (NOT AN ACRONYM), once the full information for a book or article has been given. Also do not use rev. (revised) or enl. (enlarged).

4. The following should be avoided: f. or ff. (for following page[s]), ad loc.

5. Biblical and textual abbreviations to use: OT (Old Testament), NT (New Testament), LXX (Septuagint), MT (Masoretic Text), QL (Qumran Literature), Vg (Vulgate), VL (Vetus Latina), OL (Old Latin), and OG (Old Greek).

6. Abbreviate U.S. states, using postal abbreviations (e.g., IL for Illinois), used in bibliographies when publishing city is not well known.

7. Titles of biblical books are abbreviated without punctuation when giving both chapter and verse(s): "Rom 8:28-29." But when beginning a sentence with the reference, spell it out: "Romans 8:28 is an important . . ." When giving only the chapter(s), spell out the title: "Romans 8" or "Romans 8-11." Never italicize titles of Bible books. Notice that some books with short names are not abbreviated.«

"Does the Bible Teach Lordship Salvation?" Livingston Blauvelt, Jr., Bibliotheca Sacra, January-March 1986, pp. 37-45. [MONTHS ARE SPELLED OUT]

Headings

The four levels of headings are described, followed by examples:

1. I. First Level: numbered (roman #s: I., II., etc.), larger size, centered, roman, U. & l. case, followed by space before text.

2. 1. or A. (optional) Second Level: numbered or lettered (1., 2., A., B.,etc.), text size, left-justified, bold, roman, U. & l. case, followed by space before text.

3. Third Level: text size, left-justified, roman, U. & l. case, followed by space before text. Third-level headings are arabic-numbered (1., 2., etc.) when LETTERS are used for second-level headings.

4. Fourth Level: text size, indented, italic. These are italicized, indented, complete sentences. Text immediately following.

Headings' Form

I. First Level Heading

1. (A.) Second Level Heading

Third Level Heading (with "1. Second Level Heading")

1. Third Level Heading (with "A. Second Level Heading")

Fourth level headings are complete, italicized, indented sentences. Text follows immediately afterwards.

Use of Italics

1. Use italics for words in Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and other non-English languages.

2. When giving an original (Gk. or Heb., e.g.) word immediately followed by its meaning or alternate in English, use italics for the original and "roman" in quotes for the English. For example: agapao ("I love") . . . / or "I love" (agapao) . . .

3. Italics is used in bibliographies (see "Bibliographical Forms") for titles of Books and Periodicals, but NOT for "Articles" within Periodicals, which are placed in quotes. The volume number following the Periodical Title is in roman: Periodical 15 etc.

4. Generally, italics may also be used for emphasis of English words. However, it is not good to used italics promiscuously, but only for special emphasis.

5. When a special word is used "as a word," and not with its normal meaning, emphasize it with italics, NOT quote marks. For example: The word justification comes from the Greek root … (NOT: The word "justification" comes from . . . ).

6. Titles of canonical books are always to be written in roman, including abbreviations, and are NEVER placed in italics as such, except when they are part of a non-canonical book Title. For example: Commentary on the Book of Jonah; Jonah 1:2.

Page Numbering

1. For sets of "two consecutive page numbers," for example, pp. 9-10 and pp. 19-20, we are using hyphens, not commas. (NOT: pp. 9, 10 OR pp. 19, 20.)

2. For citing page numbers over p. 100, keep the "hundreds" digit for pages between "01" and "09." For example: pp. 101-109. Otherwise, drop the "hundreds" digit: pp. 209-13; 534-47; etc.

Punctuation

1. When separating references in lists, used semi-colons (;). For example: Rom 5:8; Eph 4:9; 5:6-11; Rev 1:2-5, 10-15; 2:7, 11; 10:10-20.

2. When CONSECUTIVE verses are given, use a hyphen, NOT A COMMA: Rom 10:9-10; Eph 2:8-9; Rev 20:21-22; etc. When NON-CONSECUTIVE verses within a reference are given, then use commas: Rom 10:9, 11, 15.

3. For punctuation within footnotes, see "Bibliographical Forms" above.

4. Use a period with p., pp., c., e.g., i.e., viz., authors' initials, chap(s)., col(s)., and other abbreviations so specified (see above under "Abbreviations").

5. DO NOT use a period for v, vv, OT, NT, Gen, Matt, etc., and other abbreviations so specified (see above under "Abbreviations").

Names of parables are upper case: Parable of the Lost Sheep

Ellipses

All ellipses indicating material left out or skipped will be indicated by three spaced dots (...). We will not be using four dots (....) anywhere, in accordance with the latest accepted form.