Breytenbach, A.P.B. (Andries Petrus Bernardus), 1944-2010-03-112010-03-112005Breytenbach, APB 2005, 'The church's responsibility towards the social order: An Old Testament hermeneutic problem', HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 861-881.[http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/issue/archive]0259-9422 (print)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/13401Spine cut of Journal binding and pages scanned on flatbed EPSON Expression 10000 XL; 400dpi; text/lineart - black and white - stored to Tiff Derivation: Abbyy Fine Reader v.9 work with PNG-format (black and white); Photoshop CS3; Adobe Acrobat v.9 Web display format PDFThere is a widespread conviction among conservative groups in the Afrikaans speaking mainline churches in South Africa that the church has a responsibility towards the structuring of society. This conviction is based on a reading of the Old Testament which can be traced back to Calvin. The article hypothesises that such a hermeneutic cannot be maintained in the aftermath of historical-critical research in Biblical studies.enReformed Theological College, Faculty of Theology, University of PretoriaOld TestamentHermeneutics, BiblicalChurch and the worldMission of the church -- South AfricaBible -- O.T. -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.Article