Hermeneutics (from the Greek word hermeneia which
means speech or interpretation) is used to cover a
broad
scope in the process of understanding. It refers to
interpretation
by speech itself, as language interprets
the
mind;
the
process of translation from an unintelligible language
to
an intelligible one (cf. 1 Cor 12:10);
interpretation
by commentary and explanation.
Catholic Christians have often been accused of not
being
allowed to read the Bible on their own. This could
not be further
from the truth. When, in history, Catholics were
forbidden to
read the Bible it was a particular translation which
usually
was unauthorized and highly illiterate in its
fidelity to original
sources. In other words, unauthorized versions were
often
just simply
bad translations.