Christ Covenant Church

The destruction of Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC, caused the Levitical priesthood to be displaced by synagogues (congregations or assemblies) and rabbis, men who because of their devotion to righteous behavior and deep study of the Old Testament were ordained by their congregations to function as their anointed shepherds, teachers and judges. The authority of these old covenant communities and their rabbis continued to be recognized as legitimate not only after the restoration of the Temple and priesthood, but during the time of Christ.[1] New Testament evidence strongly suggests “rabbi” remains the appropriate title for those serving as the anointed shepherds, teachers and judges of the new covenant community, the church. 1. Jesus established the synagogues – or congregations led by rabbis that existed in His day as the model for His new covenant churches (congregations).  1.1. (Joh 4:21-24) (21) “neither on this mountain [Mt. Gerizim – the site of the Samaritan temple] nor in Jerusalem [the site of Israel’s Te