Q. How do I search for articles on a specific Bible verse or passage?

Several of our religion databases allow you to search for articles on a specific Bible verse or passage.  

Ebsco databases that will enable Scripture searching are Atla, Christian Periodical Index, Old Testament Abstracts, and New Testament Abstracts.  But each database searches Scripture passages slightly differently.  Atla uses an "SR" prefix, while OT and NT Abstracts use a "ZP" prefix.  The Christian Periodical Index has Scriptures passages as subject headings but doesn't have a Scripture search feature within the database.  We have created an Ebsco search link below that searches all of these databases (and some others with religious content) simultaneously. 

Ebscohost Religion, Philosophy, and Multidisciplinary Journal Search

Use the book name and chapter for a specific Scripture passage you wish to search without specifying a field. Leave the default "All fields." You often get more results by looking for an entire chapter rather than specific verses. Sometimes articles will be about only a few of the verses within a larger passage. You generally will have to skim the results because there may be some irrelevant titles.  When searching for books beginning with ordinal numbers such as first and second, etc., use the book's name followed by the ordinal number, e.g., "Corinthians, 1st" or "Corinthians, 2nd."

Theological Journal Library

1. To find this database, first go to the library’s main page at liberty.edu/library.
2. To the right, at the bottom of the blue "Popular Databases" box select Browse All Databases.
3. On the A-Z Databases page, select the letter T.
4. In the list that comes up select the link to Theological Journal Library.
5. On the next page, click on the option Search by Verse which is on the right underneath Journals Menu.
6. On the next page, you will then be able to use the search bar to search for articles related to a specific Bible passage. The articles that are found will be considered scholarly articles and you will be able to read them by simply clicking on the article title.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at (434) 582-2220 or at research@liberty.edu.