The following represents a proposal for the USFM markup requirements within a Paratext 6 study Bible authoring environment. The examples used within this proposal are based on the text of the Good News Study Bible, with additional note materials taken from the CEV Learning Bible.
This proposal is based on an inventory or markers used for existing study Bible projects ongoing within the Asia-Pacific region (December 2003). A description of the existing AP authoring markup is available in AP SFC for SB.doc. Paratext 6 Project Configuration
Proposal: Content for study Bibles is split into three related Paratext project windows.
1. One project contains the scripture text, and references the usfm.sty stylesheet.
2. One project contains extended study "footnotes", and references the usfm_sb-notes.sty
These notes do not include the default set of footnotes in the associated scripture text.
Notes include markup to indicate a category (note topic) to which the note materials belongs. Categories are project specific and are not predefined in USFM.
There are four distinct types of notes which may be included
* study notes for verses
* study notes for words
* study notes for keyterms
* callouts
3. One project contains sidebars and devotional/reflection material, and references usfm_sb-sidebars.sty.
The Paratext project containing extended study notes will include all chapter markers (\c), and selected verse (\v) markers for verses containing notes. Extended Notes
Extended note markers are configured as paragraph styles and indicate the start of one of four note types using the following syntax:
\en?_\cat_<category name>_\ft study note content...\en?*
where:
* \env - Indicates the beginning of a study relating to the entire verse.
* \enw - Indicates the beginning of a study note relating to a word or words within the verse.
* \enk - Indicates the beginning of a study note relating to a keyterm appearing within the verse.
* \enc - Indicates the beginning of a study note callout.
* \cat - Indicates the category to which a note belongs.
o <category name> is replaced with the text for a category name (or number) being used in the study Bible project.
* study note content - Everything that is part of the extended study note.
In order to minimize the amount of new markup introduced for study Bibles, the note content should use the existing USFM footnote markers for defining its content elements.
The following footnote markers are included within the current usfm_sb-notes.sty stylesheet for use within study note content (the \Name field for these markers within usfm_sb-notes.sty is changed from usfm.sty to indicate its purpose within a study note:
* \ft - Study note text
* \fk - Study note keyword
* \fq - Study note translation quotation or alternate rendering
* \fqa - Study note translation alternate rendering
* \fv - Study note embedded verse number
* \fdc - Study note DC text application only
A single cross-reference element is also included for the purpose of marking references within note text to other scripture or note passages (see examples).
\xt - Cross reference target references
Other standard USFM markup which may be used include:
* \w - Wordlist/Glossary/Dictionary reference
* \nd, \bk, \tl, \pn - Name of Deity, Quoted book title, Transliterated word, Proper name
* \no, \it, \bd, \bdit, \sc - Various character styles (use is strongly discouraged)
Example of use (GNSB Mark 1):
\id MRK - Good News Study Bible - Notes Material \iot Outline of Contents \io1 The beginning of the gospel 1.1-13 \io1 Jesus' public ministry in Galilee 1.14-9.50 \io1 From Galilee to Jerusalem 10.1-52 \io1 The last week in and near Jerusalem 11.1-15.47 \io1 The resurrection of Jesus 16.1-8 \io1 [An Old Ending to the Gospel 16.9-20] \io1 [Another Old Ending 16.9-10] \ip The opening words of \bk The Gospel according to Mark\bk* tell its readers that the subject of this book is the Good News about Jesus Christ. With the coming of Jesus Christ, it announces, the time set by God to bring salvation to humankind has arrived (1.15). Though the book concentrates on his deeds and words, it is not a biography of Jesus of Nazareth. Only one year, or a little more, of Jesus' life appears to be recorded (chapters 1--10), and over one-third of the book (chapters 11--16) is taken up with the last week of Jesus in and near \w jerusalem\w*. Nothing is said about his birth, childhood, home, or parents. When he first appears, unknown and unannounced, Jesus is a full-grown adult who comes to John the Baptist to be \w baptized\w* by him. \ip The author's primary interest in writing is religious. The Gospel is written "from \w faith\w* to faith". Arising out of the faith of the Christian community in Jesus as \w messiah\w*, Saviour, and Lord, it seeks to strengthen and build that faith by recounting his words and deeds. Principally, it records his voluntary sacrifice for the salvation of many people (10.45). This religious interest means that, while the author was concerned to report historically what Jesus said and did during his public ministry in Galilee and Jerusalem, he was not aiming to report all that took place, or to stick rigidly to the order in which things happened. \ip This Gospel is as relevant to the Christian community of today as it was to the original first-century readers...
\s1 The Story \ip \bk Mark's\bk* story of Jesus is told quickly and with an abundance of details that enhance its dramatic impact. Jesus appears suddenly in Judea, where he joins those who are being baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Just as suddenly, he returns to Galilee, where he proclaims the message that the \w kingdom of god\w* is about to arrive...
\ip However, he is more than a teacher, healer, or \w miracle\w*-worker. He is also the Messiah, the Son of God, the Son of Man. These three titles express the first Christians' understanding of who Jesus is. \li 1 \k The Messiah\k* is the one promised by God, the one who would come and free God's people. By the time \bk The Gospel of Mark\bk* appeared, the title "Messiah" (in Greek, "\w christ\w*") had become a proper name, so that the Gospel opens with "the Good News about Jesus Christ" (and not "Jesus the Christ"). Peter's confession (8.29) marks a turning-point in the ministry of Jesus. The title "\w son of david\w* " (10.46-48) also identifies Jesus as the Messiah, who would restore to Israel the power and glory it enjoyed under David's reign (also 12.35-37). \li 2 \k The Son of God\k* is the title by which the heavenly voice addresses Jesus at his baptism (1.11) and his transfiguration (9.7). And at Jesus' death the Roman officer confesses that Jesus is the Son of God (15.39). \li 3 \k The Son of Man\k* is the title most often used of Jesus, and it appears only on the lips of Jesus. This enigmatic title appears in \bk The Book of Daniel\bk* (Dan 7.13n), where it is applied to the exalted figure to whom God gives universal dominion. In \bk Mark\bk* the title is used of Jesus in three ways: the Son of Man acts with divine power (2.10, 28); he will be rejected, will suffer and die (8.31; 9.9, 12, 31; 10.33-34, 45; 14.21, 41); he will return in power and glory (8.38; 13.26; 14.62).
\v 1 \enw \cat ??? \fq the \w son of god\w* \ft Not included in some manuscripts.\enw* \v 2 \enk \cat ??? \w prophet\enk* \v 2 \enw \cat ??? \fq Isaiah had written \ft The quotation in 1.2 is from \xt Mal 3.1\ft ; "ahead of you" may be from \xt Ex 23.20\xt*, "Someone is shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for our God to travel!'".\env* \v 3 \enw \cat ??? \fq someone is...travel \ft is from Is 40.3, following \w septuagint\w*; the Hebrew means, "Get the road ready in the desert".\env* \v 4 \enw \cat ??? \fq John appeared \ft John probably began his ministry in \w ad\w* 27 (\xt Lk 3.1-3\xt*).\enw* \v 4 \enw \cat ??? \fq the desert \ft The desolate region on the west side of the River Jordan, not far from where it empties into the Dead Sea.\enw* \v 4 \enw \cat ??? \fq John...baptizing and preaching. \ft Some manuscripts have "John the Baptist appeared in the desert, preaching".\enw* \v 4 \enk \cat ??? \w baptizing\enk*
The following image shows the scripture text body where callers to these notes would be placed. In the case of notes relating to words, it may be desirable to somehow surround or highlight the word(s) being noted with some type of marker. In this image right and left pointing wedges are being used as an example. It may also be acceptable to simply add a caller to the end of a verse containing one or more notes. In this image an asterisk is being used as an example.
Extended book, division, and section introductions present in a study Bible should be included in the Extended Notes project.
Markup and text from the source/reference scripture resource for non-canonical items such as section heads (\s) and parallel references (\r), should be included in the Extended Notes project in order to indicate the correct location for additional or alternative non-canonical material at that location. When texts are merged for publication the non-canonical material from the note project will replace the source/reference scripture resource material.
Example of use (GNSB Mark 1): Original Text Resource (GNT92) Note Text Project
\s1 Jesus Calls Four Fishermen \r (Mt 4.12-22; Lk 4.14-15; 5.1-11) \p \v 14 After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God...
\ms Jesus' Public Ministry in Galilee \mr 1.14--9.50 \ip Jesus returns to Galilee and does not go back to Judea until the close of his public ministry. There is no indication of how long his Galilean ministry lasted: only when he is back in Judea is a \w festival\w* (\w passover\w*) mentioned (14.1). He spends much of his time in Capernaum (1.21; 2.1; 3.1, 20; 9.33) and other places around Lake Galilee (1.9; 2.13; 3.7; 4.1). Twice Jesus ventures out of Galilee: into the region of the Ten Towns (5.1-20) and Phoenicia (7.24-31). His actions and teachings soon arouse opposition from the religious leaders (2.6-7, 24; 3.6, 22; 7.1-13; 8.11-12), and before long he predicts his coming arrest, condemnation, and crucifixion (8.31; 9.30-31). \s1 Jesus Calls Four Fishermen \r (Mt 4.12-22; Lk 4.14-15; 5.1-11) \ip Jesus' message is about the arrival of the \w kingdom of god\w*, which will happen soon. To prepare for it, the people need to repent (1.15). He immediately summons two pairs of fishermen brothers to be his followers and helpers. \v 14
The Paratext project containing sidebars (including devotional/reflection questions) will include all chapter markers (\c), and selected verse (\v) markers indicating the start and end of sidebar material.
If a verse number is written as a range, this indicates that the study content belongs near to (associated with) that range of scripture text.
Note: Extended book, division, and section introductions present in a study Bible should be included in the Extended Notes project.
Two additional paragraph elements are used to mark the start of sidebar and reflective-question material. These markers also serve to mark the heading for the material.
* \esb - Indicates the beginning of sidebar text (a heading).
* \erq - Indicates the beginning of reflection question/devotional text (a heading).
All the markers used within these environments must be USFM Introduction Element markers. The following markers are included in the usfm_sb-sidebars.sty stylesheet. The descriptive name for each marker has been changed slightly to better reflect their use within the study material context.
* imt, imt1, is, is1, is2, iot, io1, io2, io3, io4, ip, im, ipi, imi, ipq, ib, iq, iq1, iq2, iq3, ili, ili1, ili2, ili3, ili4
Examples of use (GNSB Mark 1):
\v 20 \esb Fish and Fishing \ip In Jesus' time, fishing took place mostly on lake Galilee, because Jewish people could not use many of the harbors along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, since these harbors were often controlled by unfriendly neighbors. The most common fish in the Lake of Galilee were carp and catfish. The Law of Moses allowed people to eat any fish with fins and scales, but since catfish lack scales (as do eels and sharks) they were not to be eaten (\xt Lev 11.9-12\xt*). Fish were also probable brought from Tyre and Sidon, where they were dried and salted. \ip The creation story tells that God ordered the waters of the earth to bring forth fish along with all other kinds of sea plants and animails (\xt Gen 1.20-22\xt*). God gave human beings control over creation, including fish (\xt Gen 1.28; Psa 8.6-8\xt*), but people are forbidden to make or worship and image of any created thing, including fish (\xt Deu 4.15-18\xt*). When God renews the creation, the salty Dea Sea will become fresh water and will be filled with fish (\xt Ezk 47.7-10\xt*). \p Fishing was also and important source of jobs and income in Galilee, and several of Jesus' followers were fishermen. Jesus told them that they were going to bring in people instead of fish (\xt Mrk 1.16,17; Mat 4.18,19\xt*). When Jesus fed the hungry crowd that followed him out of town, the food he provided was bread and fish (\xt Mrk 6.30-44; Mat 14.14-21; Luk 9.10-17\xt*). Jesus used fishing to show his disciples the amazing results they could expect from having faith in him and sharing the good news with others. the net the apostles thre into the lake became so full of fish that they could not pull it into their boat (\xt Jhn 21.4-12\xt*). \ip Among early Christians, the fish was a favorite image for Jesus, because the Greek word for fish (\tl ichthus\tl*) consists of the first letters of the Greek words that tell who Jesus is: \fig Christian Fish Image|christfish.jpg||||Ihsous Christos Theou Uios Swthr|\fig* \v 21
Note: The image below displays the scripture body, and study note context for the sidebar material example above. Sidebars are typically presented at the bottom of a page, below the extended notes. However, figures might be presented elsewhere (such as in a column at the page edge).
\v 28 \erq Questions About Mark 1 \ili 1. \bk Mark\bk* begins with the words, "This is the good news about Jesus Christ." What exactly is this "good news"? Give two or three examples from the first nine chapters to support your definition. \ili 2. \bk Mark\bk* tells how Jesus healed many people. For example, read 1.40-45. Who did Jesus heal? What did he tell the man "not" to do? Why? What happened anyway? \v 29