AFRIKAANS: Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die ampsbegrip van die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) te meet aan die “amp” of te wel bedieninge in die Nuwe Testament, en meer spesifiek Jesus se oproep tot dissipelskap in Markus 8:34. Daar is aangetoon dat die historiese Jesus steeds relevant is vir kerklike teologie in die opsig dat daar ʼn saaklike kontinuïteit bestaan tussen die historiese Jesus en die kerk van vandag. Die slotsom waartoe gekom is, is dat daar in Jesus se oproep tot dissipelskap in Markus 8:34 ʼn implisiete ampsbegrip teenwoordig is, waarvan diensbaarheid op grond van selfverloëning, kruis opneem en navolging, die essensie vorm. Omdat die kerk bestaan uit ʼn groep gelowiges en daar in die kerk ook leiding gegee moet word, is ook aandag gegee aan leierskap en die vorming van kleingroepe soos gesien vanuit die sosiale wetenskappe. As verdere rede hiervoor kan aangevoer word dat groepvorming een van die belangrikste eienskappe is van institusionalisering. Die resultate van hierdie gedeelte is toegepas op die beweging rondom Jesus ten einde te sien hoe charisma en institusionalisering daarvan in die beweging rondom Jesus gefunksioneer het. Verder is ook gekyk na groepsdinamiek in die beweging rondom Jesus op grond van die funksionering van charisma in hierdie groep. Vervolgens is daar gewys op die rol wat institusionalisering van charisma gespeel het in die Pauliniese-, deutero-Pauliniese- en Pastorale Briewe. Kontinuïteit tussen die vroeë kerk en die Jesussaak is ook onder die soeklig geplaas. Omdat die ampsbegrip van die NHKA onder andere baie sterk steun op die denke van die reformatore soos Calvyn, is Calvyn se ampsbegrip asook die invloed van ander Reformatore se denke op dié van Calvyn, aan die orde gestel. Opsommend is ʼn paar slotopmerkings gemaak oor die ampsbegrip van die NHKA soos verwoord in sy Kerkorde en bevestigingsformuliere. Die gedagte is dat hierdie opmerkings vir die NHKA as riglyn kan dien vir die vorming van ʼn eietydse ampsbegrip. Die opsommende opmerkings word gemaak op grond van die resultate van die studie van Jesus se oproep tot dissipelskap ten einde te verseker dat die NHKA sy dienswerk doen in ooreenstemming met die Woord van God. Hierdie dienswerk word verrig in ʼn wêreld wat ver verwyderd is van dié waarin Jesus geleef en gedien het. ENGLISH: This study aims to examine the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa’s (NHKA) understanding of church office and measure it by “office” or ministries in the New Testament, and specifically by Jesus’ calling to discipleship in Mark 8:34. The relevance of the historical Jesus for contemporary church theology is indicated by the “essential” (Sache) continuity that exists between the historical Jesus and the church today. The study concludes that there is an implicit understanding of office present in Jesus’ calling to discipleship in Mark 8:34. The essence of this calling is servitude based on self denial, the taking up one’s cross and the following of Jesus. Because the church consists of a group of believers, who needs guidance, a part of the study focuses on leadership and the forming of small groups as described by social sciences. Another reason why this focus is important is that group forming is an essential characteristic of institutionalization. The results of this part of the study are applied to the movement around Jesus, the purpose of which is to study the functioning of charisma and institutionalization in this movement. Attention is also given to the group dynamic in the movement based on the functioning of charisma. Subsequently the role of institutionalization in the Pauline-, deutero-Pauline- and Pastoral Epistles are shown. The continuity between the early church and the Jesus cause is examined as well. The NHKA bases it’s understanding of church office to a large extent on the thoughts of reformers like Calvin. Therefore Calvin’s understanding of church office, as well as the influence that other reformers’ thoughts had on Calvin, is examined. Consequently a few remarks are made on the NHKA’s understanding of church office, as described in the NHKA church ordinance and the formulary for the confirmation of office-bearers. The aim is for these remarks to serve as a guideline for the NHKA to form a contemporary understanding of church office. The concluding remarks are derived from the results of the study on Jesus’ calling to discipleship, with the aim of assuring that the NHKA serves and works in correspondence to the Word of God. This serving is done in a world very different from the one in which Jesus lived and served. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / New Testament Studies / unrestricted