We look to the history of the time of framing and to the intervening history of interpretation. But the ultimate question must be, what do the words of the text mean in our time.
The ultimate question of who we are is set before us at all times and answered with every action.
It is easy to answer the ultimate questions - it saves you bothering with the immediate ones.
Ultimate questions will always lie beyond the scope of empirical science as it is.
How many roads must a man walk down?