In the second edition of the SBL Handbook of Style ( SBLHS 2; affiliate disclosure), chapter 8 is entirely dedicated to abbreviations.¹ According to the Handbook,

abbreviations for works not listed below should follow Siegfried M. Schwertner, Internationales Abkürzungsverzeichnis für Theologie und Grenzgebiete, 3rd ed. (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2014 [=IATG3]) (§8.4; affiliate disclosure).

IATG 3 can be intimidating, but four simple steps will help you interact seamlessly with this important reference tool.

1. Get IATG 3 in paperback.

As of this writing, the hardcover version of IATG 3 currently sells for nearly $300 on Amazon ( affiliate disclosure), although you can find it a bit cheaper by shopping around.

Thankfully, though, de Gruyter has also released IATG 3 in paperback. And as of this writing, you can find this version on Amazon for under $60 ( affiliate disclosure) and just over $50 elsewhere.

IATG 3 isn’t inexpensive in either case. But there’s definitely enough in it that’s not also in SBLHS 2 to make IATG 3 a useful tool to have on hand in its own right. And the paperback’s pricing means it’s much more feasible to have your own copy if you can’t access it through a library. Or you may just want to avoid jockeying with others over who’s using the library copy.

2. Consult SBLHS 2.

Next, check SBLHS 2 (§8.4) for the appropriate abbreviation. This section has two abbreviation lists. The first is sorted by the sources’ names (§8.4.1). According to this list, ” Journal of Biblical Literature” becomes simply ” JBL” (194).

The second abbreviation list sorts the same works and periodicals as in the first, except that the sort is alphabetical by the sources’ abbreviations (§8.4.2). Generally, this section’s order section follows closely the order of the first. But there are exceptions.

For instance, in the first list, ” Journal of Biblical Literature” appears between ” Journal of Bible and Religion” and ” Journal of Christian Theological Research” (194). But in the second list, ” Journal of Biblical Literature” (” JBL”) appears between ” Jerome Bible Commentary” (” JBC”) and ” Jewish Biblical Quarterly” (” JBQ”) since all three abbreviations begin with ” JB” (238).

You’ll probably find the first list more useful when composing a citation or a bibliography entry. You’ll probably find the second more useful if you come across a citation and need to try to decipher an abbreviation in it. But the second list is also incredibly helpful for step 4 below. And it’s practically necessary if you’re working with a print version of SBLHS 2.

In any case, for this step, ensure you don’t confuse the two lists. You don’t want to accidentally look at the second list (sorted by abbreviation) and miss something because that list isn’t alphabetized by source.

With that caution in mind, to find a given source’s abbreviation, consult the first list. If you

• find the source you’re seeking, and it has an abbreviation there, stop. Use this abbreviation; you don’t need to consult IATG 3 in this case.
• don’t find the source you’re seeking, move to the next step and consult IATG 3.

3. Consult IATG 3.

Like SBLHS 2, IATG 3 has two main abbreviation lists. The first is sorted alphabetically by abbreviation (3–191). The second is sorted alphabetically by the name of the source (195–726). When you’re using IATG 3 according to the guidance of SBLHS 2 as quoted above (§8.4), you’ll find IATG 3’s second list most helpful.

For instance, if you needed to cite an article from Scriptura, you’ll find that SBLHS 2 doesn’t have a corresponding abbreviation (step 2). So, you’ll then consult the second list in IATG 3 (sorted by source name). There, you’ll find four different sources with this name (632). If you’re looking for the Scriptura produced in South Africa, you’ll see that IATG 3’s abbreviation for this source is Scr.(S).

At this point, you might think you’ve found in IATG 3 the abbreviation that SBLHS 2 (§8.4) wants you to use. And indeed you might have. But before you use that abbreviation, there’s one final check you need to make.

4. Double check SBLHS 2 for the abbreviation in IATG 3.

What you want to avoid is the confusion of using an abbreviation from IATG 3 that SBLHS 2 assigns to a different source. For example, if you’re citing something from the “Herders biblische Studien” series, you’ll see SBLHS 2 doesn’t include an abbreviation for this source (step 2). You’ll then consult IATG 3 and find for this series the abbreviation “HBS” (step 3; 424).

If you look this abbreviation up in SBLHS 2’s second list (sorted by abbreviation), however, you find it’s assigned to “History of Biblical Studies” (235).

What do you do in this case? If you’re strictly following SBLHS 2, its abbreviations take precedence over those in IATG 3 ( SBLHS 2 §8.4). So, “HBS” would mean “History of Biblical Studies,” not “Herders biblische Studien.”

You then basically have two options. First, if you’re writing a longer-format piece (e.g., a thesis or dissertation) where you can create your own abbreviation list, you can define your own custom abbreviations for each of these two sources. Or if you only use one of the sources and not the other, you could define “HBS” explicitly as the source you use.

Often, you’ll use

• §8.4.1 when composing a citation or a bibliography entry.
• §8.4.2 when you come across a citation and need to decipher an abbreviation in it.

That said, §8.4.2 is also helpful when it comes time to double check IATG³’s abbreviations. And it’s practically a necessity if you’re working with a print version of SBLHS² that you can’t search digitally.

A Caution

In any case, when consulting SBLHS², the key point is not to confuse the two lists. You don’t want to look at §8.4.2 (sorted by abbreviation) and miss something because that list isn’t alphabetized by sources’ titles.

A Conclusion or Not?

With this caution in mind, consult §8.4.1 to find a given source’s abbreviation. If you

• find the source you’re seeking, and it has an abbreviation in §8.4.1, stop. Use this abbreviation. You don’t need to consult IATG³ in this case.
• don’t find the source you’re seeking, move to the next step of consulting IATG³.

3. Consult IATG³.

Like SBLHS², IATG³ has two main abbreviation lists.

The Lists’ Structure

Each is sorted alphabetically.

• The first goes by the sources’ abbreviations (pp. 3–191).
• The second goes by the sources’ titles (pp. 195–726).

So, in IATG³, you have the same two types of information as in SBLHS² §8.4. The order is just reversed so that you have the abbreviation-sorted list first, then the title-sorted list.

The Lists’ Uses

As with SBLHS² §8.4.2, you might find IATG³’s abbreviation-sorted list particularly helpful for deciphering abbrevaitions you come across. But when you come to IATG³ because SBLHS² doesn’t include a given abbreviation, you’ll find IATG³’s second, title-sorted list most helpful.

An Example

For instance, let’s say you’re citing an article from Scriptura. You consult SBLHS² §8.4.1, and you find that this section doesn’t give you a corresponding abbreviation.

This is where you consult IATG³’s second, title-sorted list. There, you’ll find four different sources with this name (p. 632). And if you’re looking for the Scriptura produced in South Africa, you’ll see that IATG³’s abbreviation is Scr.(S).

An Inconclusive Conclusion

At this point, you might think you’ve found in IATG³ the abbreviation that you’re meant to use. And indeed you might have. But you also might not have. Before you can know, you need to do one final check.

4. Double check SBLHS² for the abbreviation in IATG³.

Sometimes, IATG³ and SBLHS² assigns the same abbrevations to different sources. So, before you use an abbrevaition from IATG³, you need to verify that SBLHS² doesn’t already use this abbreviation to mean something else.

This is because SBLHS² is a higher-level style authority than IATG³. You only use IATG³ to fill in the gaps that SBLHS² doesn’t cover.

An Example

For example, let’s say you’re citing something from the “Herders biblische Studien” series. You consult SBLHS² and see that it doesn’t include an abbreviation for this source. You then consult IATG³. There, you find for this series the abbreviation “HBS” (p. 424).

As you double check this abbreviation in SBLHS², however, you consult §8.4.2. Although you don’t find “Herders biblische Studien” in §8.4.1, you do find “HBS” in §8.4.2. And in SBLHS², “HBS” doesn’t mean “Herders biblische Studien.” It means instead “History of Biblical Studies” (p. 235).[^hbist]

Possible Resolutions

What do you do in this case? Or what do you do if neither SBLHS² nor IATG³ has an abbreviation for the title you’re citing? In such cases, you basically have two options.

Use a Custom Abbreviation

If you’re writing a longer-format piece (e.g., a thesis or dissertation), you can probably create your own abbreviation list. In that list, you can define custom abbreviations for these sources and others. Or if you only use “Herders biblische Studien,” you could explicitly define “HBS” as this source and not as “History of Biblical Studies.”

Don’t Use an Abbreviation

On the other hand, you might not be able to define custom abbreviations. Journals, for instance, aren’t going to print a custom abbreviations page just for one article or issue.

In such cases, your main other option is not to use an abbreviation at all if either

• IATG³ doesn’t provide one or
• IATG³ provides one that conflicts with how SBLHS² uses that same abbreviation.

In these cases, you’d simply write out the title in full each time. That way, you avoid ambiguity and also don’t need to explicitly define such abbreviations.

Conclusion

At first blush, IATG 3’s hundreds of pages of abbreviations can be intimidating. But by following these steps, it doesn’t take much time to become accustomed to using IATG 3 alongside SBLHS 2 as you’re composing citations.