KERG 611
INTRODUCTION TO REFORMED CHURCH POLITY
Ecclesiology welcomes you in the course unit KERG611. We trust that this course will enrich
you, now for your growth in the Theology as science, but also in your service as pastor.
Whenever you experience difficulty in understanding a facet of the work, give immediate
attention to that problem. You are welcome to make an appointment with your lecturer
whenever you want to discuss something in private.
This course unit is one of four course units in Church Polity. The primary goal of the course
units is to equip students to be conversant with and have insight into the discipline of
Reformed Church Polity so that the church can be governed in a scientific and competent
manner.
Seminar 1 - Encyclopaedic place of church polity
Outcomes:
That you are able to have a discussion on the following themes:
- Name encyclopaedia
- Theology
- Special place of Church polity
​
Sources to consult:
-Kuyper, A: Part 3.
-Anon. S.A.: Chapters 1, 3
Seminar 2 - Necessity of a pure concept of church
Outcomes:
1) That you have an overview of certain church concepts, for instance
- Roman
- Lutheran
2) That you have an opinion on the following statement: Church government systems are based on a particular concept of church
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Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1982:9-34.
-Du Plooy, 1986: Chapters 2:10-17
Seminar 3 - The kingdom of God and the church
Outcomes:
1) That you are able to have a discussion about the following topics:
- The concept “kingdom”
- Advent of the kingdom
- Importance of the kingdom for church polity
- Relationship between kingdom and church:
(1) separation (2) identification (3) correct relationship
​
Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1982:34-63.
-Ridderbos, 1972:228-320.
-Van der Linde, 1978:
-Van der Walt, 1969:96 e.v.
Seminar 4 - The office: fundamental perspectives
Outcomes:
1) That you are able to have a discussion about the following topics:
- The office of Jesus Christ
- Charisma and office
- Character of the office
- Perspective of church polity: office-kingdom-church
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Sources to consult:
-Du Rand, 1988:75-94
-Kleynhans, 1988:166-176
-Ridderbos, 1966:479-514.
-Rossouw, 1988:40-48
-Versteeg, 1988:49-73
Seminar 5 - Meaning and use of ekklésia in the New Testament and as a concept of the history of God’s revelation (heilshistoriese begrip) and as a Christological concept
Outcomes:
1) That you are able to evaluate some viewpoints on this (heilshistoriese begrip) and a Christological concept theme
- NG Church
- NH Church
2) That you search for data on this matter from the New Testament
3) That you explain the Controversial texts:
- Acts 9:31;
- Gl 1:13, 21, 22
4) That you understand ekklesia as a history of God’s revelation
​
Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1982:64-111
-Ridderbos, 1966:364-441
-Schmidt, 1968:501-536
-Snyman, 1977:35-50
Seminar 6 - Essential attributes of the church: (1) unity (2) sanctity
Outcomes:
1) That you are able to have a discussion about the following topics:
- Essential attributes
- Church: object of faith
2) That you know what is meant by the unity of the church:
- indicative-imperative;
- visible-invisible;
- unity across linguistic and national boundaries
3) Sanctity:
- some errors
- indicative-imperative
- sanctity and discipline
​
Sources to consult:
-Acta Sinode GKSA, 1967:359-411
-Du Plooy, 1982:121 e.v.
-Du Plooy, 1990:227-249
-Heyns, 1977:109 e.v.
Seminar 7 - Essential attributes of the church: (3) catholicity (4) apostolicity
Outcomes:
1) That you know what is meant by the catholicity and ecumenicism of the church
2) That you know what is meant by the apostolicity of the church
- Roman viewpoint
- Reformed (GKSA) viewpoint
​
Sources to consult:
-Acta Sinode GKSA, 1967:359-411
-Du Plooy, 1982:121 e.v.
-Du Plooy, 1990:227-249
-Heyns, J.A. 1977. Die Kerk: 109 e.v.
Seminar 8 - The notae eclesiae
Outcomes:
1) That you know what the signs of the church is
2) That you know what
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Sources to consult:
-Confessio Belgica art 29
-Lord’s day 31 HC
-Polman, s.a:180 e.v.
Seminar 9 - Foundations of various juridical concepts
Outcomes:
1) Answer the following key question: who/what determines what is just?
2) Give an overview of the following historical perspectives:
- Roman
- Lutheran
- Erastian
- Collegialistic
- Congregationalistic
- Calvinistic
3) What is in conclusion the relationship between the Word of God and confession?
​
Sources to consult:
-Bouwman, 1928:1-52.
-Du Plooy, 1986
-Smit, 1985
-Van der Linde,1965:9-18; 77-82
Seminar 10 - Content and meaning of the concepts justice and righteousness according to the OT and NT
Outcomes:
1) That you are able to discuss the content and meaning of the following Old Testament words
- Tsedek
- Tsedakah
- Mishpat
2) That you are able to discuss the content and meaning of the following New Testament words
- Dikaios
- Dikaiosuné
​
Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1986
-Eloff,1988:
-Smit, 1985:151-, 175-186.
Seminar 11 - Origin and essence of justice Connection between church and law
Outcomes:
1) That you are able to evaluate the origin of justice
2) That you are able to evaluate some theories on the origin of justice:
- natural law
- positivism
3) That you know what is meant with the essence of the law
4) That you know what is meant with separation of church and law
5) That you know what is the German church polity dilemma
​
Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1986.
-Plomp, 1990:32-42.
-Smit, 1985.
-Van der Linde, 1965:77-82.
​
Other reading to consult:
-Du Plessis, L.M. 1974.
Seminar 12 - Church polity - scriptural view
Outcomes:
1) That you know what a Scriptural view of Church polity is
2) That you can give a definition of Reformed church polity
​
Sources to consult:
-Compare seminar 11
-Bakker, 1990:13-19
Seminar 13 - Cubernetics
Outcomes:
1) That you know what is meant with cubernetics?
2) That you know what the encyclopaedic place of cubernetics are
3) That you know what the relationship is between:
- Church polity-cubernectics
- Church polity-diaconology
​
Sources to consult:
-Bouwman, 1928:15.
-Anon, s.a.
-Kuyper,1909:468 e.v.
-Spoelstra, 1989
Seminar 14 - Building up the church
Outcomes:
1) That you know what is meant by the church as a construction
2) That you know what is meant by the equipping of the church through:
- charisma and diakonia
- offices
3) That you know what is meant by the assembly of offices (e.g. Acts 15)
​
Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1982:230 e.v.
-Du Rand, 1988:75-94.
-Smit, 1988:196-204.
-Ridderbos,1966:479 e.v.
-Versteeg, s.a.
-Versteeg, 1988:49-73.
Seminar 15 - Organisation of NT churches
Outcomes:
1) That you know what the term Perspective of the kingdom means
2) That you know how
- The organisation of churches among the Jews functioned
- The organisation of the churches among the heathens functioned
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Sources to consult:
-Du Plooy, 1982:186 e.v.
-Sillevis ,1910.
-Bronkhorst, 1990:43-58.