Standing on the Shoulders of Giants May 6, 2026

This resprouter caught my eye. It’s a tree that’s growing directly on the stump of an older tree that’s been logged. Trees like this are literally standing on the shoulders of giants.

From the very earliest days of the church, we’ve been standing on the shoulders of Giants.  Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna and Papias of Hierapolis all had close ties to John the Apostle. Perhaps those names mean nothing to you, but they are some of the early church fathers who held the gospel dear in the generation that followed the first Apostles.

Clement of Rome and Linus (the first pastor or bishop of Rome) knew Paul personally.

Both Linus and Polycarp knew Timothy. Paul admonished Timothy about his doctrine.

Hold to the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

The line of people who, with the power of the Spirit, helped write, preserve, transmit and protect the Scriptures through the ages is incredible. Men and women gave their lives to protect the Word. Countless people risked their lives to distribute it.

Men and women have fought to keep true doctrine and to clearly articulate the traditions and theology we hold dear. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants.

We have the Scriptures in many languages and translations. We have the extant writers of the early church fathers. We have the thoughts of the great theologians and preachers available at our fingertips. We have the works of many related disciplines to help us study.

Commentaries. Lexicons. Dictionaries. Maps. Sermons. And more are more available to us than to any generation that went before us. Yet our Bibles are often dusty, and we frequently remain babies in the faith.

We are without excuse in not knowing more. This side of glory, we will never understand it all (and maybe not even then), but God has generously given us the tools we need to grow.

What’s holding you back?

Be blessed

Kevin

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All contents, “Gleanings From the Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2026 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, “Gleanings From the Word.”

Scripture quotations are from the Legacy Standard Bible® (LSB®), Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. 

Summary: The church has always stood on the shoulders of those who came before — apostles, fathers, martyrs, and theologians — who paid dearly to preserve and transmit the faith we now hold. Given the staggering resources available to us today, our biblical illiteracy is inexcusable.

Takeaways:

The gospel was guarded at great cost. Real people with real names — Polycarp, Ignatius, Linus, Timothy — risked and gave their lives so the faith would reach the next generation intact. We are standing on the shoulders of giants

Sound doctrine is a trust, not just a preference. Paul didn’t suggest Timothy mind his teaching — he charged him to guard it like a treasure entrusted to his care.

We are the most resourced generation in church history — and possibly among the least formed. Commentaries, lexicons, translations, and the church fathers are available to anyone with a phone or a library card.

Abundance without use is its own kind of poverty. Dusty Bibles and shallow faith aren’t a resource problem — they’re a will problem. We are without excuse.

From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.