When doing research in biblical studies, you often will find it helpful to search for resources on specific scripture citations. Entering such search terms into the library discovery service search box often will provide many irrelevant results, since so many biblical book names are also common words in other contexts.
The best way to search for articles on scriptural passages is in the ATLA Religion Database with ATLAserials. To find that database, click on the Library Resources tab of the library web page and then select A-Z database list from the drop-down menu. You can also access it directly here.
Here are the steps involved in searching the ATLA database by scripture citation:
- Searching scripture references in ATLA databases
- Below the three search lines is a menu with four items: “Filters, Search Options, Publications, Subjects.” Choose the last one “Subjects.”
- It will reveal a new (or fourth) search line, to the left of which is a drop down menu, choose “Atla Scripture Search.”
- It will reveal, below that search line, a list of terms. These terms are the names of the books of the Bible with a check box and a plus symbol to the left of them.
- If you want to search for articles on the entire book(s) of the Bible, click the check box to the left of the book(s) name(s). (Not recommended)
- If you want to search for articles on a chapter (or several) from a book of the Bible, click on the plus symbol to the left of the book name.
- To the left of each chapter will be another check box and another plus symbol. If you want to search articles on the entire chapter or chapters, click the check box(es) to the left of the desired chapter(s).
- If you want to search for a specific verse (or verses) of a particular chapter, click on the plus symbol to the left of the desired chapter.
- Click the check box(es) to the left of the desired verse(s).
- Once you have clicked on one or several boxes for the entire book of the Bible or chapter(s) or verse(s), click the box “Add to search” that is below right of the fourth search line.
- That will populate one of the three search lines nearest to the top of the page. Once it has done that, you will need to click on the blue “Search” box.
- The next screen will give you your result. You can then use the filters provided just under the search line to narrow your search more
