That's correct without the Holy Spirit no one can
truly understand scripture. The bible is amazing, the more I learn, the more I learn that I have more to learn.
My advice to new believers and Old, is to take the Sunday sermon that your Pastor/Minister has given, takes note and study on it that week. Start there! God has given that word to you and your fellow Christians in that community for you to learn, God has given you that message for that week..think about that first!
For personal study, I would say a good study bible would suffice. Not everyone has the time or inkling to go into hours long studies. In fact most modern study bibles contain almost the same information as the older whole bible commentaries. But even at that just a bible and a pen and note pad... And your right read and pray.
Discipleship is key for us all, we are all disciples, young and old in age and spiritual maturity. All pilgrims on the way home. Anyhow, that was me just writing what I was thinking when I read your post