Writing Effective Keywords for Academic Papers in Scripture-Governed Research: A Biblical Research Scholar’s Guide

Abstract

Keywords are an integral part of good academic writing in Scripture-Governed Research (SGR) but are often overlooked by some biblical research scholars and authors.  Despite their significant role in enhancing the discoverability, accessibility, and scholarly impact of research publications, many of these authors give little attention to their selection and presentation. In Scripture-Governed Research (SGR), keyword selection requires both academic precision and theological faithfulness. The study is anchored on Ecclesiastes 12:10, which affirms the importance Scripture attaches to choosing appropriate, precise, true, meaningful, and acceptable words. Thus, the article examines the principles and best practices for writing effective keywords for academic papers in Scripture-Governed Research (SGR). The paper argues that carefully selected keywords not only facilitate indexing in academic databases and search engines but also improve the visibility, retrieval, and citation of scholarly works. It concludes by proposing practical guidelines for selecting keywords that enhance scholarly visibility while maintaining methodological integrity to assist biblical researchers, theological educators, students, and journal authors in developing accurate, relevant, and effective keywords that faithfully represent the content and contribution of their research.