Ok I understand where you are coming from. But lets take a look at Stephen in the NT. He didn't have any formal biblical training and he was preaching and lead by the spirit.
"10 But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him."
I'm really not trying to argue with you about this just trying to get a grasp as to what you are saying. If God can give someone great wisdom through the HS then couldn't He do the same thing for someone reading scripture. I'm not down playing the schooling you have received, I just don't think it is necessary for a Christian to be a theologian to understand Scripture, or learn the original language it was written in.
But then again I would love to be able to read the bible in Greek and Hebrew
I have never said God can't teach us. And lead us! And guide us! Of course he can. As for Stephen I don't see anywhere in the Bible he says he was not educated. What it said was he was powerful in faith, and wisdom. (Act 6) So why could he not have studied the Bible extensively, in the Hebrew (yes he was a Greek speaker) educational system. His speak showed in depth knowledge of the Old Testament. Indeed, it seems more than likely he did go to Synagogue school, but perhaps he was taught by Greek rabbis, and memorized the Septuagint. He certainly knew the history of the Jews, and how to speak to the elders. AND he was indeed lead by the Holy Spirit in all things!
So don't put God in a box. Just because Stephan was great in wisdom and faith, does not exclude him "studying to show himself a worker approved!"
I think a lot of this myth of ONLY being led by the Holy Spirit, comes out of an ignorance of 1 century Judaic and Christian culture. This was not a primative tribe living in the jungle! (Although God can certainly use the Holy Spirit to reach these people!).
There was a cultural superiority that came out of German higher criticism. This is the criticism that challenged each word of the Bible and that the Bible was not inspired, just an interesting perspective on the Jewish people. It relegated God's people to little more than savages, that were "supposedly" led by a distant God. As for Jesus- well the Jesus Seminar came out of that movement. Just utter garbage.
Instead, you have a population of extremely educated people, most of whom spoke both Hebrew and Greek. The gospels cite Jesus and other people quoting from both versions of the OT - Hebrew and LXX. The boys knew how to read and write, they studied scripture under experts. They memorized the OT.
So in what way were they only led by the Holy Spirit. God used them, because of their knowledge, and their diligence in studying the Word under incredible teachers. True, some went farther than others in this study, Paul being a prime example. And so God used him even more!
And I never said you needed to read Greek and Hebrew to know and understand the Bible. But - DOCTRINE!! That is what I am talking about. Theology! Knowing how to read the Bible correctly. Knowing the verses in context of the rest of the Bible. Just look at the Reformation. Martin Luther had a doctor's degree in Theology and taught theology in Seminary. He was thoroughly read in both Hebrew and Greek. In fact, after he got saved and nailed his Thesis to the door in Wittenburg, one of the first things he did (besides leaving his religious order!) was translating an excellent version of the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew into German. He had spent years studying, and God was able to use him BECAUSE of his education and training. And he wrote theology! He turned the RCC church over, followed by Calvin and Zwingli and others.
So God uses people of great knowledge to his end - to reveal theology which is based on the Bible, and not on someone forming a doctrine or two out of a few assorted verses. And that is what is happening today.
We have a friend who came from Jamaica and never managed to get his education. His grammar is appalling. He was always coming up with some great revelation, based on his limited understanding of English. One time he came to me exclaiming a discovery, and it was all based on a bad understanding of antecedents in nouns, in run on sentences in English. I didn't' know Greek or Hebrew, but I did know English and English grammar and pretty much all of it was a mistake.
So fast forward to someone who I maybe does speak English well, but has not understanding of how to do interpretation. He loves God but he starts pulling verses out of context, and making his own doctrine. They next thing you know, he has a "following" and they are believing this "man of God. " So they form their own church.... And so on. You get the picture.
There are so many wonderful, godly people who have spent their lives studying under others. Reading theology, studying Greek and Hebrew. So why would God not choose to use them? Why would God not enlighten their understanding, and to bring things to light? How much better to use a worker who has truly studied and used Biblical hermeneutics AND is led by the Holy Spirit?
I studied the Bible on my own for 25 years. I read it over and over. I memorized and dug into passages. But I didn't learn anything compared to my extended part time 7 years study in Seminary. I do believe God was preparing my heart during the first 25 years, for the things he would use people AND the Holy Spirit to teach me.
And no, learning and the enlightenment by the Holy Spirit is never limited to scholars. We all have a part to play in sharing the gospel, our own walk with Christ. Every single Christian needs to be studying their Bible and reading and praying daily. But do the majority of us form doctrine? Nope! Do the majority of us influence many people with our original revelations that God gives us? Nope! But we still can study and grow as servants of God. And grow in wisdom. As much as Stephen? Well, the book of Acts was the birth of the church. Again, God chose the people he could truly make an impact with, especially since their lives would be forever written down in the Bible. So no, we will never be where Stephen was when that fatal day came and he became the first martyr in the church. And inspired many more with not only his wisdom, but his incredible character and love of God.