Ensuring Biblical Accuracy in Christian Literature
Christian readers are always on the lookout for new faith-based books to read. Whether fiction stories with strong values or spiritual guides, there is a whole literary world out there. Ultimately, people look to books to reinforce different parts of their faith. However, it is of utmost importance that all references to Scripture are accurate and truly reflective of His word.
No matter what shape your biblical reference takes in your book, always ensure it is accurate. If you write a book that misrepresents the Scripture, readers will not be able to trust your opinions. Of course, much of Scripture is open to interpretation — that is why there are so many new books analyzing it.
Each book, chapter, and verse of the Bible is sacred. Here at Cloverly Christian, we want you to have the tools necessary to express your faith through your writing. This article briefly outlines some issues surrounding ensuring biblical accuracy in all types of Christian books.
Authors’ Backgrounds and Personal Faith
Your book is always your book. No matter what topic or topics it covers, you know best what goes into your story. As such, you are always in control of the biblical content you decide to write about. You can share specific parables or quotes, or you can use it as a basis for another story.
Your unwavering Christian faith and background with His word guides your writing from the first page. Only you know what to include in your book. That is a fantastic place to start when it comes to ensuring biblical accuracy.
When referring to Scripture or any other faith-based text, the first step is to read and understand it. You cannot write about something without reading and digesting the material. From there, your interpretation of the text can form the basis of your own book. Commenting on and dissecting religious teachings is the basis of Christian literature.
Everyone practices their faith differently. That includes individual interpretations of the Bible. Writing your book using guidance from Scripture creates a conversation with the reader that strengthens their own faith. However, always make sure your interpretations are based in His word to create as strong of an argument as possible.
Citations and Bible Translations
Whenever you quote any material, you must cite and attribute the quote to its source. That goes for the Bible as with every other book. Having accurate citations allows readers to efficiently see where you got your information. Also, you may be citing material that is protected under domestic or international copyright. It is especially important to properly cite this material to avoid any potential legal trouble.
At Cloverly Christian, our standard style guide for editing is the Chicago Manual of Style, or CMS. The CMS is long and has rules for every element of grammar, style, and citations. Throughout the editing process, our editors use the CMS for accuracy and consistency in our catalogue of books.
The Bible has a unique citation format from other books and resources. The format used by the CMS is also slightly different than others. The most important elements to include are the book, chapter, and verse of what you are quoting. Since there are multiple translations and versions of the Bible, you also should include which one you are using.
For example, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee” (Psalms 39:7, KJV). This quote is from the King James Version of Psalms, chapter 39, verse 7.
Using a uniform citation style will keep your book coherent and easy to read. Do not let stylistic aspects of your book distract readers from your deeply faithful material.
Cloverly Christian Review Process
As a deeply devoted Christian publisher, Cloverly Christian has high expectations for all its authors. We trust that you are well-versed in all of the Bible’s teachings and messages. Therefore, we maintain high standards of accuracy for each and every book we publish.
Before agreeing to publish your book, it must go through a thorough review process. Besides just meeting general publishing norms, our review process will ensure your work accurately highlights His teachings. Any work that does not meet our standards of morality and faithfulness could be rejected.
The goal of Christian publishing is to share Christian thoughts with all readers. Fellow Christians will be able to dig deeper into their faith, while non-Christians can explore a new way of thinking. These meaningful conversations are key to successful Christian publishing.
Cloverly’s publication standards are reflected in the importance of biblical accuracy. Without a high degree of biblical accuracy, your work will not be taken seriously as a piece of Christian literature.
