The Shoulders of Giants
Bruce Conrad
Table of Contents
Beloved Brethren
In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) published his Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica known generally as the Principia, in which he presented theories of integral calculus, the laws of motion and universal gravitation, and other mathematical descript-tions of the physical universe. Those who study the history of science regard the Principia as the most important and fun-damental work underlying modern science. In 1675, a fellow scientist named Robert Hooke wrote to Newton, complimenting his work. Newton’s famous response was, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
As I look up from my Bible some days, in fresh veneration of some particular passage, I feel deeply indebted to the teachers upon whose shoulders I have stood to see “further.” In our case, we are not seeing things never known by others before us, as did Newton, but we are comprehending portions of our com-mon spiritual inheritance (Jude 3). Rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17-18), we are “fully able to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and Height.” I sometimes wonder if I would have ever been able to enjoy such a thing from the Word had another not pointed it out to me. Once shown, we see these things for ourselves and are no longer dependent upon others to continue to see and enjoy them. Also, we often see added points to which we are led through the knowledge of the first.
Some of you are in technical fields. You routinely use principles and formulae developed by others, as well you should. In geotechnical work, for example, we stand on the shoulders of Karl Terzaghi, Otto Mohr, and Albert Atterberg, whose discoveries most of us in that field learned from the late George Sowers of Georgia Tech. Were we to attempt to figure out and develop all this science on our own from scratch, we would not be very adept in our field nor useful to our employers. I am sure it is similar for others of you in your other lines of work.
Though it may sound pious to “only read the Bible,” as some have said, the Scriptures themselves point to our need of the ministry of other men for spiritual growth, that we might “grow up unto Him in all things” (Ephesians 4:15). The apostles and prophets themselves are long since with the Lord, but we have in their writings in the Scriptures that which they received from the ascended Christ as foundational truth (Ephesians 2:20). Also, since Christ, as Head of the church, continues to provide “gifts unto men” (gifted men) “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:8 &12), it seems clear that we are to avail ourselves of the Holy Scriptures AND of these gifts (persons) to enable our understanding and to profit from the Word. Whether the Scriptures themselves, or the ministry of others, spiritual things are to be communicated by spiritual means, and must be spiritually discerned. We believers have the Holy Spirit indwelling us individually and among us collectively to guide us into all truth (2 Corinthians 2:13-15, John 16:13).
Does this mean that I only sit home with my Bible and my library of written ministry and past recordings? Not at all, as the above referenced passage (Ephesians 4:10-16) goes on to say, “ ... the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual work-ing in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Every member is needed. It is important to rub shoulders with the brethren with whom the Lord has put us in the local gathering, and to hear what the Lord sees good to put before us collectively in “real time.”
I remember sitting in a Tuesday night reading meeting years ago when Adrian Roach commented on Luke 16 regarding the unjust steward who said, “I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.” Forcefully he stated, “A Christian needs to do both!” The point was well made. It is vital to spend quiet times alone with the Lord. digging into the Scriptures for oneself. Begging, on the other hand, is unabashed solicitation of help from another. We ought not to be ashamed to do so. The Lord has raised up giants before us, and we are to avail ourselves of what He has given them to see, that it might be passed along to us.
Two hundred years ago, had you surveyed the entire worldwide body of written Christian ministry, in any language, you would have found a paucity of sound, Christian commentary on the Scriptures. There were devotional expressions to the Savior by some here and there to be sure, which are certainly not without merit, as some very old hymns attest. But as for sound and helpful ministry on foundational subjects, it was rare or nonexistent—and I include in this the so-called “church fathers” from the first centuries of the Christian era. How quickly that was lost which was committed to our collective trust (2 Timothy 1:13-14 & 2:2)!
In the late 1820’s the Lord worked in some twenty-somethings in the UK to begin to see some basic truths of scripture as to the Christian’s present position and hope. By the goodness of God, this work of the Spirit blossomed for the remainder of that century. Dozens of basic, fundamental truths (with which you may be very familiar) were re-covered to the saints—truths which had been lost sight of for 1700 years or so. In the last of the ten parables of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, we read that “while the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom; go ye out to meet Him” (Mat-thew 25:5-6). I believe there was a work of the Spirit at that time that answered to this and which led to many thousands of saints being awakened to the blessed and imminent hope of the Lord’s return for His saints (1 Thessa-lonians 4). Many “went out” (verse 6), taking an outside place relative to institutionalized Christianity in response to perceiving this call; and, as a result of being freed from de-nominational restraints, they received more and more light from the Lord in His word (Psalms 119:99-100). Surely the Lord had set before them “an opened door” (Revelation 3:8, JND).
This work of the Spirit largely occurred among English-speaking brethren, and, to a lesser extent, among the German and French- speaking brethren. For those of you who know English, or for whom English is your first language, I might loosely apply the scripture, “the word is nigh thee.” Other men labored, and we have entered into their labors.
“Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Matthew. 13:17).
About forty-five years ago I was in a small, Wednesday-evening Bible reading in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had been saved maybe a year, and there were a handful of us twenty-somethings in the room along with the others. Across the room from me was a brother dressed impeccably in a well-tailored suit and tie (he was an expert in his field who had made his living in the business world in the area of mergers and acquisitions). He looked over at us with piercing eyes welling with tears, held up his Bible in one hand, and stated emphatically, “You should never know more about anything than you know about this book!”
I registered the comment in my mind at that time; but now that decades have passed, I appreciate the effect it had on me. I am thankful for the degree to which, by the grace of God, I have “dug” and “begged” over the years. But nonetheless, I have to confess, that there has been much lost time since—time invested in things necessary and otherwise.
The time is so short! I encourage my younger brothers and sisters—if you have not heretofore valued the Word and the legacy of ministry left to us by brethren used of God in this wonderful recovery, reconsider this asses-sment! Carve out time from work and from apparent necessities—from families even, (for we always have to leave something—Luke 10:40) to invest in your souls’ comprehension and enjoyment of the precious mysteries unfolded in the Word of God. Your labor will not be in vain in the Lord.
Please be assured that I write not to exert “dominion over your faith” (“for by faith ye stand”), but to be in some measure a fellow helper of your joy (2 Corinthians 1:24).
August 2023
With much affection in Christ,
Bruce Conrad