SBL Style

LATIN

There are also a few English and Latin abbreviations that occur frequently in the apparatus: 

txt = “Text" The manuscripts listed after this also contain the text of the variant 

pc = pauci = "a few" 

pm = permulti= "a great many" 

al = alii = "others"" 

rell = reliqui = "the rest" 

cet = ceteri = "some others" 

Translations of the New Testament into other languages are also abbreviated: 

it = Itala = "Old Latin" 

vg = Vulgate 

latt = all Latin witnesses 

sy = Syriac 

Abbreviations for Coptic manuscripts include ac, bo, mae, mf, pbo, and sa. 

(Much of this guide is borrowed directly from the Nestle-Aland Key for the Critical Apparatus and the SBL Style Handbook) 

BIBLICAL BOOKS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS (Examples, not a comprehensive list)

American Standard Version    ASV

English Standard Version    ESV

Holman Christian Standard Bible    HCSB

Jerusalem Bible    JB

New American Bible, Revised Edition    NABR

New English Translation of the Septuagint    NETS

New International Version    NIV

New Jerusalem Bible    NJB

New King James Version    NKJV

New Living Translation    NLT

New Revised Standard Version    NRSV

Revised English Bible    REB

Revised Standard Version    RSV

Papyrus                             pap.

Semitic                             Sem.

Coptic                              Copt.

MANUSCRIPT ABBREVIATIONS

When a manuscript is referred to by column and line number, roman numerals are used for the column number, followed by a comma and space, with the line number set as an Arabic numeral (e.g., 1QS III, 12; 1QpHab I, 2). Manuscripts of biblical texts can include the biblical citation of chapter and verse in parentheses: 4QpaleoExodm V, 4 (9:7). A comprehensive list of abbreviations can be found in section 8 of the SBL handbook.

Number:        Abbreviation:       Name (and Alternative Name):

1Q28a          1QSa                      Rule of the Congregation (appendix a to 1QS)

4Q82             4QXII^g                          The Greek Minor Prophets Scroll      

MAJUSCULE

Majuscule manuscripts are abbreviated in the apparatus using a number in the form 0XXX. A system of letters is used for the most well-known codices. 

Symbols Key: 

Minuscule manuscripts are abbreviated in the apparatus with a number in the form XXX. The important minuscule manuscripts are referred to by a "family" of manuscripts with similar texts, abbreviated as / XX.

The two most important are: 

Papyrus fragments appear in the apparatus with the symbol p followed by a numeral.

The most important are: 

Guide compilation by Ellie Cronk and Shua Peterson*