A List of Abbreviations of the Books of the Bible

(According to The SBL Handbook of Style, 2d ed., 2014)

Old Testament New Testament

Gen Genesis Matt Matthew
Exod Exodus Mark Mark
Lev Leviticus Luke Luke
Num Numbers John John
Deut Deuteronomy Acts Acts
Josh Joshua Rom Romans
Judg Judges 1-2 Cor Corinthians
Ruth Ruth Gal Galatians
1-2 Sam 1-2 Samuel Eph Ephesians
=1-2 Kgdms 1-2 Kingdoms (LXX) Phil Philippians
1-2 Kgs 1-2 Kings Col Colossians
=3-4 Kgdms 3-4 Kingdoms (LXX) 1-2 Thess 1-2 Thessalonians
1-2 Chr 1-2 Chronicles 1-2 Tim 1-2 Timothy
Ezra Ezra Titus Titus
Neh Nehemiah Phlm Philemon
Esth Esther Heb Hebrews
Job Job Jas James
Ps/Pss Psalm/Psalms 1-2 Pet 1-2 Peter
Prov Proverbs 1-2-3 John 1-2-3 John
Eccl (Qoh) Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth) Jude Jude
Song (Cant) Song of Songs/Solomon (Canticles) Rev Revelation
Isa Isaiah
Jer Jeremiah Apocrypha
Lam Lamentations Tob Tobit
Ezek Ezekiel Jdt Judith
Dan Daniel Add Esth Additions to Esther
Hos Hosea Wis Wisdom of Solomon
Joel Joel Sir Sirach/Ecclesiasticus
Amos Amos Bar Baruch
Obad Obadiah Ep Jer Epistle of Jeremiah
Jonah Jonah Add Dan Additions to Daniel
Mic Micah Pr Azar Prayer of Azariah
Nah Nahum Bel Bel and the Dragon
Hab Habakkuk Sg Three Song of the Three Young Men
Zeph Zephaniah Sus Susanna
Hag Haggai 1-2 Macc 1-2 Maccabees
Zech Zechariah 3-4 Macc 3-4 Maccabees
Mal Malachi 1-2 Esd 1-2 Esdras
Pr Man Prayer of Manasseh
Capitalization of Other Terms Ps 151 Psalm 151
the Bible, but “biblical”
Scripture/scriptural Citing the Bible
the Gospels (referring to texts), “gospel” when Gen 1-2 Genesis chapters 1 through 2
referring to the Christian message Gen 1:2 Genesis chapter 1, verse 2
the Twenty-Third Psalm ch./chs. chapter/chapters
King of kings (used as title) v./vv. verse/verses (not versus!)
Son of Man (used as title) HB Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible (Jewish canon), Old Testament LXX Septuagint
(Christian Bible) OT Old Testament
Second Temple period, intertestamental period NT New Testament
deuterocanonical literature, Apocrypha (pl.; Rom 3:21-26, 27-31; 4:1-5; Col 2:11-12 (semi-colon
apocryphon, sg.) when chapter or book change; only comma when
additional verses in the same chapter and book)