Anglican priest and famed poet George Herbert wrote a book on pastoral ministry called The Country Parson. In the book he talks about what a priest – or any Christian for that matter – needs in order to understand the Scripture. He lists four things that are necessary; they are:
1. A holy life.
2. Prayer.
3. A diligent collation of Scripture with Scripture.
4. Reading commentaries and the fathers.
Evidently American Christians would be helped by actually reading it as well.