Embedded Files
All ancient sources were originally written in a language other than English. Therefore, students must here be careful to distinguish between quotation and paraphrase or summary when citing ancient sources. When paraphrasing or summarizing the content of an ancient source, the citation format is fairly simple. However, if you are quoting an ancient source in a language other than the original, you must acknowledge the work of the translator (that is, of course, unless you are providing your own translation). Therefore be sure to pick the correct format below.
Lists of standardized titles and abbreviations for many commonly cited ancient works can be found in The SBL Handbook of Style (2nd ed.) §8.3.3-17, the SBL Style blog, and The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Students may use either standardized English or Latin (or Greek transliterated) titles/abbreviations, but they must do so consistently for all non-biblical ancient sources. Do not, for example, cite some ancient books with English titles and others with Latin titles. And if you use abbreviated titles, then use abbreviated titles for all ancient sources.
Numbering schemas the writings of the church fathers and other ancient texts differ by document. Typically, the schema is chapter#.section#.
However, for longer works, the typical schema is book#.chapter#.section#. See examples below, and keep in mind that there are exceptions.
Church Fathers
Church Fathers
Church Fathers: Paraphrase, Summary
Church Fathers: Paraphrase, Summary
Footnote Format
1 Author Name, Book Title #.#.#.
Footnote Examples
1 Augustine, Confessions 5.10.19.
2 Ignatius, To the Philadelphians 8.2.
No bibliography entry
If you are paraphrasing or summarizing something, no bibliography entry is required.
Church Fathers: Quotation of Standard Modern Translation (e.g., ANF, NPNF).
Church Fathers: Quotation of Standard Modern Translation (e.g., ANF, NPNF).
Most of the free English translations of the Chruch Fathers available online are taken from The Ante-Nicene Fathers or The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (series 1 or 2). If quoting from standard English translations like these, it is sufficient to indicate the abbreviated series title, volume #, and page # may be cited instead of the specific translator.
Footnote Format
1 Author Name, Book Title #.#.# (Abbr. Title #:#).
Footnote Examples
1 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.5.1 (ANF 1:418).
2 John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew 90.2 (NPNF1 10:531).
3 Jerome, Against Pelagius 2.15 (NPNF2 6:468).
Bibliography Examples
The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. 1885–1887. 10 vols. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.
The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. 1886–1889. 14 vols. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.
The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. 1890–1900. 14 vols. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.
Church Fathers: Quotation of Non-standard Modern Translation
Church Fathers: Quotation of Non-standard Modern Translation
Footnote Format
1 Author Name, Book Title #.#.# (Translator Surname).
Footnote Examples
1 Augustine, Confessions 5.10.19 (Chadwick).
2 Ignatius, To the Philadelphians 8.2 (Holmes).
3 John Calvin, Institutes 4.1.2 (Battles).
Bibliography Format
Format varies. In the first example below, Augustine is the only ancient author whose work has been translated in the modern publication. In the third example, Ignatius is one of many ancient authors whose works have been translated in the modern publication. In the second example, Calvin is the only author, but the publication has two volumes, and is part of a series, and has both an editor and a translator.
Bibliography Examples
Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Calvin, John. The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Edited by John T. McNeill and translated by Ford Lewis Battles. 2 vols. Library of Christian Classics 20-21. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960.
Ignatius. To the Philadelphians. In The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations. Edited and translated by Michael W. Holmes. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
Church Fathers: Own Translation
Church Fathers: Own Translation
If your quotation is your own translation directly from the original language, then you may cite as follows.
Footnote Format
1 Author Name, Book Title #.#.# (translation mine).
Footnote Examples
1 Augustine, Confessions 5.10.19 (translation mine).
2 Ignatius, To the Philadelphians 8.2 (translation mine).
No bibliography entry
If you are paraphrasing or summarizing something, no bibliography entry is required.
Other Ancient Works
Other Ancient Works
Other Ancient Works: paraphrase or summary
Other Ancient Works: paraphrase or summary
Footnote Format
1 Author Name, Book Title #.#.#.
Footnote Examples
1 Aristotle, Metaphysics 3.2.996b5-8.
No bibliography entry
If you are paraphrasing or summarizing something, no bibliography entry is required.
Other Ancient Works: Quotation in a Modern Language
Other Ancient Works: Quotation in a Modern Language
Footnote Format
1 Author Name, Book Title #.#.# (Translator Surname).
OR, if the book is anonymous...
2 Book Title #.# (Translator Surname).
Footnote Examples
1 Aristotle, Metaphysics 3.2.996b5-8 (Tredennick).
2 Testament of Isaac 1.6-7 (Steinspring).
Bibliography Format
The format varies depending on the type of modern publication.
Bibliography Examples
Aristotle. Metaphysics. Vol. 1. Translated by Hugh Tredennick. Loeb Classical Library. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 1933-1935.
Stinespring, W. F. “Testament of Isaac.” In The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 1, Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments, edited by James H. Charlesworth, 903-911. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1983.
Page updated
Report abuse