I love the Greek of Acts 8:30, don't you? When Philip heard the Ethiopian eunuch reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah, he asked him, "Do you understand what you're reading?" Here the Greek text has a beautiful play on words:
The man's response was wonderfully vulnerable:
"How can I unless I have someone to instruct me?"
The eunuch realized he needed trained instruction. So he uses a Greek word for "instruct" that describes the guidance provided by a teacher to a student.
What a great lesson. Interpreting the Scriptures has everything to do with understanding what's been written. This sounds simple, and often it is. But when you start digging into the Bible on your own, you're suddenly faced with a number of barriers, including the language barrier. That's why, if you haven't studied Greek, you'll need a version of the New Testament that's as close to the Greek as you can get. The ASV of 1901 is one such version, as is its more modern counterpart, the NASB. There are also many beneficial resources available online.
Folks, a seminary degree is not a requirement for serious Bible study. But you do need reliable tools and resources. Thankfully, there's no shortage of such today. Use them!
