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Biblical Studies Tools: Call Numbers for Browsing

Print and electronic resources at CTU for Biblical Studies

A unique call number identifies each book in the Library. For most books, they're located near the bottom of the book's spine. When you find one book on a topic you're looking for, the other books shelved nearby will have similar call numbers and will be on similar subjects. This makes browsing the shelves an effective way to find books that will meet your needs.

To browse library bookshelves to survey available books pertinent to your book of interest, find the relevant call number, either by looking in the catalog for a book on your topic or consulting one of the charts in this guide. You can ask a staff members for the location of a call number within the library. 

Library of Congress Call Numbers for New Testament

General New Testament: BS 2333

Gospels and Acts: BS 2548

Gospels: BS 2549

Matthew: BS 2570

Mark: BS 2580

Luke & Acts: BS 2589

Luke: 2590

John: BS 2610

Acts: BS 2626

General Epistles: BS 2630

Pauline Epistles: BS 2640

Romans: BS 2660

Corinthians: BS 2670

Galatians: BS 2680

Ephesians: BS 2690

Philippians: BS 2700

Colossians: BS 2710

Thessalonians: BS 2720

Pastoral Epistles: BS 2730

Timothy: BS 2740

Titus: BS 2750

Philemon: BS 2760

Hebrews: BS 2770

Catholic Epistles: BS 2777

James: BS 2780

Peter: BS 2790

John: BS 2800

Jude: BS 2810

Revelation: BS 2820

How to Read A Call Number

BS

First letters: The first letter of a Library of Congress call number indicates the general class the call number falls within. In our example, the book is located under B, which is where books on philosophy are classed. If there is a second or third letter, these indicate a specific subclass. BS indicates books on the Bible.

 Stand-alone letters will come before any pairs, for example, N comes before NA.

195 Numbers that follow the letters: The numbers define the subject of the book. 
.N394

Cutter Number (the next set of numbers): These numbers further specify a book's identity and subsequent shelf location by applying unique information about that book (such as author last name, book title, geographic location or some other facet of the content) to a table that generates a kind of alphanumeric code. 

Cutter numbers contain letters, which are read alphabetically, and decimal numbers, which are read as decimals. So, for example, .N3234 comes after .N76 but before .N381.

2009 Year number: The edition of a volume is the next part of the call number. The year of publication follows the Cutter number to indicate the edition. In our example, 2009 indicates that this edition was published in 2009

Library of Congress Call Numbers for Hebrew Bible Books

Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: BS 1140

Historical/Narrative Books: BS 1205

Pentateuch/Torah: BS 1222 and 1225

Genesis: BS 1235

Exodus: BS 1245

Leviticus: BS 1255

Numbers: BS 1265

Deuteronomy: BS 1275

Ten Commandments: BS 1285

Deuteronomistic History (Former Prophets):

Joshua: BS 1295

Judges: BS 1305

1 and 2 Samuel: BS 1325

1 and 2 Kings: BS 1335

Introduction to The Prophets: BS 1505

Isaiah: BS 1515

Jeremiah: BS 1525

Ezekiel: BS 1545

Introduction to Book of the Twelve: BS 1560

Hosea: BS 1565

Joel: BS 1575

Amos: BS 1575-1585

Obadiah: BS 1595

Jonah: BS 1595-1605

Micah: BS 1595-1615

Nahum: BS 1623

Habakkuk: BS 1625-1635

Zephaniah: BS 1625-1645

Haggai: BS 1655

Zechariah: BS 1655-1665

Malachi: BS 1655-1675

Introduction to Hebrew Poetry: BS 1405

Introduction to Wisdom Literature: BS 1455

Psalms: BS 1425-1445

Job: BS 1415

Proverbs: BS 1465

Ruth: BS 1315

Song of Songs: BS 1483

Ecclesiastes: BS 1475

Lamentations: BS 1535

Esther: BS 1375

Daniel: BS 1555

Ezra-Nehemiah: BS 1355-1365

1-2 Chronicles: BS 1345

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