Long posts or not.. There is No subsitute to having security in understanding scripture properly.. You can go to theological colledges and learn this theory or that theory and you can end up being totally wrong.. The Holy Spirit is the true Key to understanding the Word of God.. People trusting in this structure or tradition or that structure or tradition is putting their trust in men..
The only way you can truly understand Scripture is to understand proper hermeneutics. That word means Bible interpretation. That is where all the major mistakes come from. Not interpreting something correctly, from any translation or version.
Knowing the original languages well, also helps. I read the NT in Greek every day. Sometimes I see things there that get lost in translation. Then I do refer to commentaries, lexicons and other exegetical tools. Nothing mysterious, just facts.
And theology is a totally different ball of wax than just understanding the Bible. Theology is more of a synthesis of what the Bible says. So, as Nehemiah just posted how wrong oneness Pentecostals are, that is a heretical theology. A correct theology would be the Trinity. But, as you do read the Bible over and over, it becomes apparent that Nehemiah is right in saying that Oneness people are heretics. So, using the Bible to make doctrine, IMO, should never be done without a good knowledge of Greek. Of course, this issue has been going on since the third century AD (325) at the Council of Nicaea. It was actually solved by a lot of people who understood Greek extremely well. Plus, reading the Bible, without any kind of tools or helps also shows Jesus to be divine, not just some kind of manifestation of God.
So, you can go back and read everything written on this topic, in Greek, including the Bible, which I have been doing, or just read the Bible, and you will find the same thing. The theology has been there for 1700 years. But it is still found in English Bibles.
I feel called to study using the tools, and reading the Patriarchs and the many correct theologians. But, that doesn't make me any better. Nor does it mean I put my trust in people. I trust God has made sure the truth which was debated 1700 years ago, is still found in the Bible today. As for knowing the tools, what does the Bible say??
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:14-17
The Bible is clear that we are to learn and study. And learn from people who know! Anyone that trashes higher learning, is trashing what the Bible instructs us to do. I hope you are not doing that, out of your ignorance, Adstar?