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[German Version] I. Religious Studies – II. Old Testament – III. Early Judaism – IV. New Testament – V. Church History – VI. Systematic Theology – VII. Practical Theology – VIII. Law – IX. Missiology I. Religious Studies Over the course of history, the word office has been used for a wide variety of functions. In every case, however, what is peculiar to the term is that it refers to an activity independent of the unique personal characteristics of the officeholder. In the context of religious studies, what first comes to mind is the office of priest, as found in many religions. Roles with religious overtones like shaman, sorcerer, or wizard, particularly common in tribal societies, should not be thought of as offices. An office always presupposes a religion with at least a rudimentary organization. The association of a religious office with payment in the sense of a modern profession is not necessary and does not exist in many religious systems. Religious offices are always found when regularly recurring tasks have to be performed continually: offering sacrifice in the context of a temple organi…