What does "cf" refer to in Scripture citations?

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PRmerger

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I keep running into this while reading apologetic resources: when citing a Scripture passage, “cf” is used…what does that mean?

Example: cf. 1Cor.7:40
 
It means to compare whatever you are currently reading with the passage cited. It is latin for confer. Often you will find the same idea or word used there, sometimes in an interesting or different manner.

Well, anyway, that is what I always thought it meant. I could be wrong, of course.
 
Pug said:
It means to compare whatever you are currently reading with the passage cited. It is latin for confer. Often you will find the same idea or word used there, sometimes in an interesting or different manner.

Well, anyway, that is what I always thought it meant. I could be wrong, of course.
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Yes, it is an abbreviation of the Latin *conferre, *“go”, or “take oneself to” (ie, “compare”).

(And “ie” in the previous parentheses is an abbreviation of the Latin *id est, *“that is” 🙂 )

tee
 
hmm…I always thought it was an abbreviation of “Cross-reFerence”
 
Ah, the joys of “creative reading.” When I first read your reply I thought you said that “cf” was Latin for “coffee,” and that you needed to get a cup of coffee while you were looking up the other reference.

What you actually said was more accurate but less amusing, I think.
  • Liberian
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think cf. would mean “citation found”, as in for instance, there’s an explanation about a passage and then it says (cf. Luke 1:43), for exanple.
 
Liberian said:
When I first read your reply I thought you said that “cf” was Latin for “coffee,” and that you needed to get a cup of coffee while you were looking up the other reference.
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Ah, well, that may be true. I can drowse off during short intervals.😃
 
I vote for “confer” which means to compare to whatever else is being pointed to.

I’m hypersensitive to caffeine, so I can’t drink coffee, thanks. I don’t think it’s a commercial for coffee.
 
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