SBL Handbook of Style

SBL Handbook of Style is a style guide published by the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), providing guidelines for formatting and citing sources in academic writing related to Biblical studies, Ancient Near Eastern studies, and Classical studies. The handbook is widely used by scholars and students in these fields, including those affiliated with Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. It is often consulted in conjunction with other style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook, which are commonly used by publications like The New York Times and The Times of London. The SBL Handbook of Style has been influential in shaping the writing styles of prominent scholars, including John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright, who have published works with Oxford University Press and Eerdmans Publishing Company.

● Introduction

The SBL Handbook of Style was first introduced in 1999, with the goal of providing a standardized style guide for scholars and students in the fields of Biblical studies, Ancient Near Eastern studies, and Classical studies. The handbook was created by a team of scholars and editors, including Patrick H. Alexander and John F. Kutsko, who drew on their experience working with SBL Press and other academic publishers, such as Brill Academic Publishers and Mohr Siebeck. The handbook is designed to be used in conjunction with other style guides, such as the Turabian style and the MLA style, which are commonly used by scholars publishing in journals like Journal of Biblical Literature and Vetus Testamentum. The SBL Handbook of Style has been widely adopted by academic institutions, including Yale University, University of Chicago, and Duke University, and is often used in conjunction with other resources, such as Lexicon of Greek Personal Names and Thesaurus Linguae Graecae.

● History

The SBL Handbook of Style has a long history, dating back to the early days of the Society of Biblical Literature, which was founded in 1880 by scholars such as Philip Schaff and Mozley Stokes. The society's early publications, including the Journal of Biblical Literature, established the need for a standardized style guide, which was later developed into the SBL Handbook of Style. The handbook has undergone several revisions, including updates in 2014 and 2020, which were overseen by editors such as Bob Buller and John F. Kutsko, who worked with SBL Press and other academic publishers, such as Baker Academic and Wipf and Stock Publishers. The revisions have incorporated feedback from scholars and students, including those affiliated with University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Emory University, and have been influenced by other style guides, such as the APA style and the CSE style, which are commonly used by scholars publishing in journals like Journal of Archaeological Research and Near Eastern Archaeology.

● Content and Structure

The SBL Handbook of Style provides guidelines for formatting and citing sources in academic writing, including sections on bibliography, footnotes, and headings. The handbook also includes guidelines for transliteration and translation of ancient languages, such as Ancient Greek and Biblical Hebrew, which are commonly used by scholars publishing in journals like Vetus Testamentum and Journal of Semitic Studies. The handbook is organized into several sections, including a glossary of technical terms and a list of abbreviations for commonly used sources, such as Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls. The SBL Handbook of Style is designed to be used in conjunction with other resources, such as Perseus Digital Library and Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, which are commonly used by scholars affiliated with Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Brown University.

● Citation Style

The SBL Handbook of Style provides guidelines for citing sources in academic writing, including books, articles, and websites. The handbook recommends using a author-date system for citing sources, which is similar to the APA style and the Chicago style, which are commonly used by scholars publishing in journals like Journal of Biblical Literature and Catholic Biblical Quarterly. The handbook also provides guidelines for citing ancient sources, such as Josephus and Philo of Alexandria, which are commonly used by scholars affiliated with University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, and Boston University. The SBL Handbook of Style is widely used by scholars and students in the fields of Biblical studies, Ancient Near Eastern studies, and Classical studies, and is often consulted in conjunction with other style guides, such as the MLA style and the Turabian style, which are commonly used by scholars publishing in journals like Journal of Archaeological Research and Near Eastern Archaeology.

● Updates and Revisions

The SBL Handbook of Style is regularly updated and revised to reflect changes in academic writing and publishing. The handbook is overseen by a team of editors and scholars, including Bob Buller and John F. Kutsko, who work with SBL Press and other academic publishers, such as Baker Academic and Wipf and Stock Publishers. The revisions incorporate feedback from scholars and students, including those affiliated with University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Emory University, and are influenced by other style guides, such as the APA style and the CSE style, which are commonly used by scholars publishing in journals like Journal of Archaeological Research and Near Eastern Archaeology. The updates and revisions ensure that the SBL Handbook of Style remains a relevant and authoritative resource for scholars and students in the fields of Biblical studies, Ancient Near Eastern studies, and Classical studies.

● Impact and Adoption

The SBL Handbook of Style has had a significant impact on academic writing and publishing in the fields of Biblical studies, Ancient Near Eastern studies, and Classical studies. The handbook is widely used by scholars and students, including those affiliated with Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge, and is often consulted in conjunction with other style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook, which are commonly used by publications like The New York Times and The Times of London. The SBL Handbook of Style has been influential in shaping the writing styles of prominent scholars, including John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright, who have published works with Oxford University Press and Eerdmans Publishing Company. The handbook is also used by academic institutions, including Yale University, University of Chicago, and Duke University, and is often used in conjunction with other resources, such as Lexicon of Greek Personal Names and Thesaurus Linguae Graecae.

Category:Style guides