How do I cite a religious text in APA?
Answer
Classical Works
Religious works (e.g., Bible, Qur'an, Torah, Bhagavad Gita) and classical works (e.g., ancient Greek and Roman works) are cited like books.
Reference List Format
- Religious works are usually treated as having no author.
- For translated works, include the translator's name in the reference.
- When the date of original publication for a classical work is ancient, use the abbreviation "B.C.E." If the date is approximate, use the abbreviation "ca." (this stands for circa).
Example: The Qur'an (M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, Trans.). (2004). Oxford University Press.
In-Text Citation
- If the work has canonically numbered parts (e.g., books, chapters, verses, lines, cantos), use these numbers instead of page numbers when quoting the work.
Example: The person vowed to "set me as a seal upon thine heart" (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Song of Solomon 8:6).