After I was saved, there were a number of people who gave me the impression that I could not understand things simply by the Bible and the Holy Ghost.

For instance, the following:

Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

But I found this scripture:

Matthew 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

So, by comparing those two scriptures together, it looked like, that at the time of the third seal, it will take a day's labor to buy a single measure of wheat.

But, I was told, no - that this can only be understood by being taught by someone who knows Koine Greek and history of the Roman empire.

That only when I'm taught that the Greek word was referring to the denarius, a Roman coin, that was the pay for a day's labor for unskilled labor,

that only then can I understand Revelation 6:6.

Growing up catholic, I concluded that only those who knew Latin (the priests), were the only ones who could possibly understand the things of God.

So, in high school, I diligently studied Latin with the Jesuits.

(at least until they convinced my parents that the world would only be a better place if they transferred me to the public school)

Then, years later, when I first got saved, every teacher, preacher, and people on the radio, were constantly referring to how things were written in the Greek.

They were showing us things that the common man could never find out simply by the Bible and the Holy Ghost.

They showed us, in many places, what the Bible really meant, or how it really should have been translated.

But it soon dawned on me that they were doing exactly what the Jesuits did, except instead of Latin, they used Greek.

So, I realized that I had three choices:

1) remain thankful for those who know the ancient languages, that are willing to teach me the deeper things of God

2) diligently study Koine Greek like I had studied Latin, until I could fluently read Koine Greek

3) or be like one of those crazy Bible fanatics who trust that the Spirit of God is able to teach me those same things, using only the Bible in my hand

Strangely, though, for some reason, I opted for door number 3.

There is nothing wrong with studying ancient languages.

In fact, I expanded my own vocabulary in our language, after studying Latin, like many of our words that came from Latin past participles, etc.

However, fully knowing the mechanics of grammar and vocabulary of an ancient language, cannot, in and of itself, reveal spiritual things:

I Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

  12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

  13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

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