Do Church Leadership Still Exist After 70 AD?

 Do Church Leadership Still Exist After 70 AD?


The destruction of the temple in 70 AD marked the full establishment of the new covenant era, where believers have direct access to God. However, leadership roles like elders (presbyters) and shepherds (pastors) continued in the early church as seen in the writings of Paul (e.g., 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1). The question is whether these roles were temporary or enduring.


If one takes a strong emphasis on the direct teaching of God (Jeremiah 31:34, 1 John 2:27), then one might argue that elders were no longer necessary after 70 AD.


If one sees God still using human instruments for guidance (Jeremiah 3:15, Isaiah 66:21), then elders could still exist, not as mediators but as facilitators of God's teaching.



The key is in understanding the balance between God's direct teaching and the continued presence of elders.


1. God Teaches Directly – As Jeremiah 31:34 and 1 John 2:27 emphasize, believers in the new covenant have direct access to God’s knowledge through His Spirit. This means that, in a fundamental sense, every believer is taught by God and does not need a human intermediary to know Him.



2. God Still Uses Human Shepherds – At the same time, passages like Isaiah 66:21 and Jeremiah 3:15 indicate that God still appoints individuals to guide His people. This suggests that elders, while not mediators, serve as facilitators of learning and spiritual growth.




How It Works Together


Elders exist, but their role is different. They are not rulers in a hierarchical sense but are guides who help others grow in what God is already teaching them.


Believers are directly taught by God, but that doesn’t exclude learning from others. Even in the New Testament, Paul writes letters instructing churches, and the early church had teachers and elders.


The emphasis shifts from dependence on human leaders to maturity in Christ. Elders help equip believers (Ephesians 4:11-13), but the goal is for all to grow into direct communion with God.


Elders exist, but their function is supportive rather than authoritative, aligning with the reality that all believers are taught by God

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