This article believes church polity is critically important, especially in recent times where an appeal is quite easily made to the courts of the political dispensation. The article believes the scriptural viewpoint that Jesus Christ is head of the church plays a substantial role in the modern-day church, which should be kept in mind regardless. Reference is made to court cases in the past and the conclusion is that church polity is relevant because it is a scriptural necessity.

Van der Merwe, P.J. - Brown, S. 1994. The nearest in affection: Towards a Christian understanding of Islam. (Bladsy 254-255)Van der Merwe, P.J. - Newbigin, L. 1991. The gospel in a pluralist society. (Bladsy 255-256)Van der Merwe, P.J. - Van der Merwe, D.C.S. 'n Watermodel vir die kosmologie of God se twee boeke met spesiale verwysing na Gen 1:1-19 en die moderne kosmologie. (Bladsy 256-258)Van der Merwe, P.J. - Kritzinger, J.J. Saayman, W. On being witnesses. (Bladsy 258-259)Dreyer, T.F.J. (...) - Pieterse, Hennie. Praktiese Teologie as kommunikatiewe handelingsteorie. (Bladsy 260-261)Boshoff, F.J. - Burger, C.W., Müller, B.A. Smit D.J. Riglyne vir prediking oor die Pastorale en Algemene Briewe (Woord teen die lig 11/6). (Bladsy 261-262)Du Toit, B.A. - Van Aarde, Andries. Kultuurhistoriese agtergrond van die Nuwe Testament: Die eerste-eeuse Mediterreense sosiale konteks. (Bladsy 263-264)Van der Merwe, Paul - Van der Westhuizen, H.G. Herder van Angola. (Bladsy 264-268)Beukes J.A. - Burger, C.W., Müller, B.A. Smit D.J. Riglyne vir prediking oor regverdiging en reg: Woord teen die lig 111/3. (Bladsy 260-270)Engelbrecht Johannes J. - Joubert, Stephan. Matteus vandag. (Bladsy 270-272)Botes H.J. - Celliers, Johan. God vir ons. (Bladsy 272-274)Pretorius, S.P. - Papp, Kálmán. Die Nederduitsch Hervormde Gemeente Krugersdorp 1891 - 1991. (Bladsy 274-275). (shrink)

The discovery of a new homonin species called Homo naledi evoked unprecedented interest, even outside the scientific disciplines who are researching extinct homonin species. The reason for this is that Prof. Lee Berger, attached to the University of the Witwatersrand and his team, known as the Rising Star-expedition, came to the conclusion that the fossils that were discovered in the Dinaledi cave room in Sterkfontein outside Johannesburg in 2013, were placed there deliberately. The theory postulates the possibility of symbolic or (...) ritual behaviour by a species that lived and later became extinct approximately 1 to 2 million years ago. If this is indeed the case, it also offers theologians the opportunity to join the conversation with regard to the evolvement of our spirituality and religiousness. This article is an attempt to render a contribution, with the data available to us, about the value of the prehistoric signs of spirituality with specific reference to the so-called cemetery theory. Together with this, other usable theories will be employed to consider the possible signs of ritual and symbolic behaviour by Homo naledi. The condition for a meaningful discussion about the evolvement of our spirituality and religiousness is that epistemological contours be clearly drawn. With the first part of the article these contours are drawn and with the second part the possible implications of the cemetery theory are reviewed. (shrink)

Adrianus van Selms as protestantse Teoloog. Van Selms het in 1938 vanaf Nederland na Suid-Afrika toe gekom om Semitiese Tale te doseer in die Fakulteit Lettere en Wysbegeerte aan die Universiteit van Pretoria. Hy het ook deeltyds in die Fakulteit Teologie doseer. Die Universiteit van Pretoria het hom as een van denkleiers van die 20ste eeu aan die universiteit erken. Hy het geslagte van teologiese studente beïnvloed tydens sy amptelike dienstydperk aan die universiteit, vanaf 1938 tot 1971. Meer (...) as 300 publikasies staan agter sy naam. Behalwe vir werk wat hy op die terrein van die Semitiese Tale gelewer het, het hy ook verskeie kommentare oor Ou-Testamentiese boeke geskryf. Verder was hy ook aktief as prediker in die kerk en het ook 'n uitsonderlike bydrae tot die kategesemateriaal van die Kerk gelewer. As teoloog het Van Selms aansluiting gevind by die reformatoriese tradisie van die 16de eeu. As eksegeet het hy die uitdaging aanvaar om die Bybelse tekste te lees in die erkenning van die historiese afstand wat die hedendaagse leser van die oorspronklike tekste skei. Hy is sodoende gekonfronteer met die knaende probleem van die benadering tot die Bybelse tekste: dogmaties of histories-krities? Deur as eksegeet sy eie dogmatikus te word, het hy die twee benaderings nie apart gehou nie, maar tot 'n eenheid gebring en op die manier 'n hervorming in die beoefening van die teologie verteenwoordig. Hy aanvaar met hierdie werkswyse die verantwoordelikheid vir die erfenis van die Kerkhervorming vir die kerk van sy dag. Die hoofstuk ontwikkel langs die verwagtinge wat aan die amp van predikant in die reformatoriese tradisie gestel word: teologie, prediking, kategese en herdelike sorg. (shrink)

This article evaluates the terms and conditions candidates have to meet before entering into the ministry. This evaluation is then set against the background of reformed presuppositions about the office of a minister of the Word. The focus is especially on the relevant articles 4, 8 and 9 of the Synod of Dordt, 1619. The article explains how the articles set out in the Church Order relate to a unique office, namely that of the church minister. In the context of (...) the Reformed Churches in South Africa, the practical application of these church order articles are also discussed. The question addressed is whether our understanding of the Church Order of Dordt, 1619, Article 8, represents a correct application of this church order article. Furthermore, this article illuminates the responsibilities of inter alia the curators of the Theological School Potchefstroom of the Reformed Churches in South Africa, as well as the responsibilities of the theological professors in the adjudication of application to become a minister of the Word in terms of the different church order articles. (shrink)

Van Aarde, AG - Scheffler, EH 1988. Suffering in Luke's Gospel (Bladsy 183).Hattingh, LJ - Steenkamp, JJ 1987. Die Wêreldraad van Kerke se bemoeienis met die rassevraagstuk in Suid-Afrika. 'n Historiese analitiese oorsig van die periode 1950-1970 (Bladsy 190).

Does South Africa need a common moral language? Many people are of the opinion that South Africa finds itself 'after Babel’ and needs a common moral language (1). The author considers some of the arguments of people who disagree with this analysis, because they do not define the problem in this way (2); because they find the language- or Babel-methaphor confusing (3); because they agree with the description of the problem, but not with the suggested solution, namely a common moral (...) language (4); or because they accept the solution, but do not regard it as the proper task of the Christian church to be involved in this search for a common moral language (5). (shrink)

(2001). Sosiaal-etiese verantwoordelikheid in Suid-Afrika: ’n Perspektief vanuit Levinas. South African Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 20, No. 3-4, pp. 321-338.

The ministerial needs of Afrikaans-speaking university students in South Africa. This article is the result of an empirical study conducted in the student congregations of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa and the Reformed Church in South Africa. The study has been done to answer the question: What are the miniserial needs of Afrikaans-speaking university students in South Africa? The research problem that necessitates this study is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the ministerial needs (...) of Afrikaans-speaking university student members of the Reformed student congregations in South Africa. Recent research on student ministry to support student ministers and congregations in the South African context is scant. The research question is formulated to determine the ministerial needs of university students and the implications those needs have for ministry to university students. The goal of the research is to identify the ministerial needs of university students in South Africa and to empower the student congregations to minister to these students more effectively. From the research, three primary ministry needs have been identified: (1) the need for faith formation; (2) the need for mentoring; and (3) the need for a faith community.Contribution: The contribution of this article is original empirical research on the ministerial needs of Afrikaans-speaking university students in South Africa. The research contributes to the current void in South African research on student ministry. (shrink)