Hmm… some thoughts. Let me first say that I think it most profitable to learn and study the original languages of the Bible. I also think it most profitable and important for people to be guided by those who labor in the Word of God and prayer and who have been trained to expound the Word of God.
Having said those things I will say this:
The Holy Spirit of God is the best teacher. The Holy Spirit is a counselor who guides the child of God into all truth. It is important to ask God for His Spirit so that we may understand truth. Everyday. Many times God will use someone who has understood the Bible by the Holy Spirit to speak to us and the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth through the speaking of someone whom He has done the same with.
Secondly, to say that the ancient writings of the Bible, and the ancient understanding of the world, and the original languages of the Bible make it difficult to judge the true weight of expressions and language in the Bible is nonsense. As I mentioned at the first, having skill in such things will doubtless aid in understanding; however, never fail to consider that God who is behind His Word gave His Word for us especially. It is for everyone who would believe of all types and classes and peoples. Not many noble and not many wise (according to the world’s standards). God is able to perfectly communicate across any and all time and language barriers, so that His Word, which will endure forever, can be understood by the mind that is enlightened by His Holy Spirit, who is the most excellent of teachers.
The inclination can be in natural man to use all sorts of systems and methods of interpretations in order to avoid the weight of scripture as well as to achieve ideas that suit one’s own thought and devices.
As in Martin Luther’s day, scripture is not for scholars only. It is for all people. To those who would understand it however; it must be understood by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit alone. Those who understand otherwise do not truly understand for the words are spirit and life and must be understood by the spirit. God is spirit and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).