RE: Define “SOUND JUDGMENT”, please.
St. Paul tells Timothy:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[a] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ).
What does rightly handling the word of truth mean?
It most definitely does not mean giving up your right to study the word and leaving it to the Vatican to do it for you.
Here are some basic principles of good handling of the truth which serious students of the Bible will follow:
1. The Grammatical Principle. The Bible was written in human language, and language has a certain structure and follows certain rules. Therefore, we must interpret the Bible in a manner consistent with the basic rules of language.
Usually, the exegete starts his examination of a passage by defining the words in it. Definitions are basic to understanding the passage as a whole, and it is important that the words be defined according to their original intent and not according to modern usage. To ensure accuracy, the exegete uses a precise English translation and Greek and Hebrew dictionaries.
Next, the exegete examines the syntax, or the grammatical relationships of the words in the passage. He finds parallels, he determines which ideas are primary and which are subordinate, and he discovers actions, subjects, and their modifiers. He may even diagram a verse or two.
2. The Literal Principle. We assume that each word in a passage has a normal, literal meaning, unless there is good reason to view it as a figure of speech. The exegete does not go out of his way to spiritualize or allegorize. Words mean what words mean.
So, if the Bible mentions a “horse,” it means “a horse.” When the Bible speaks of the Promised Land, it means a literal land given to Israel and should not be interpreted as a reference to heaven.
3. The Historical Principle. As time passes, culture changes, points of view change, language changes. We must guard against interpreting scripture according to how our culture views things; we must always place scripture in its historical context.
The diligent Bible student will consider the geography, the customs, the current events, and even the politics of the time when a passage was written. An understanding of ancient Jewish culture can greatly aid an understanding of scripture. To do his research, the exegete will use Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and books on history.
4. The Synthesis Principle. The best interpreter of scripture is scripture itself. We must examine a passage in relation to its immediate context (the verses surrounding it), its wider context (the book it’s found in), and its complete context (the Bible as a whole). The Bible does not contradict itself. Any theological statement in one verse can and should be harmonized with theological statements in other parts of scripture. Good Bible interpretation relates any one passage to the total content of scripture.
5. The Practical Principle. Once we’ve properly examined the passage to understand its meaning, we have the responsibility to apply it to our own lives. To “rightly divide the word of truth” is more than an intellectual exercise; it is a life-changing event.
And in all of these, you study the word in COMMUNION with like minded students of the word. And PRAY for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who Christ promises to be our guide and teacher and helper ( See John 14 ).
That's a non-answer.
Here are some basic principles of good handling of the truth which serious students of the Bible will follow
Why will they follow it? Because you say they should?
I'll point out that to carefully follow the principles you have laid out, one needs to have an education that surpasses the means and ability of 99.99% of the world's population.
How does one know if one has a "precise" English translation of a Hebrew text? Really only by learning Hebrew, negating the need for a precise English translation.
To get back to the original article that began the thread: Vines has precisely this level of education. Although he is wrong, he knows far more about the language, syntax, historical context, and lexicography of the Scriptures than 99% of actual Christians do.
Bart Ehrman, a far more radical critic of traditional Christianity than Vines, has an even more rarified knowledge of the original languages and the history than Vines does.
If the only authority is based on careful study and deep textual knowledge, then Ehrman and Vines are highly authoritative.
Vines is doing everything he is "supposed" to do: exercising private judgment, carefully studying the Scriptures, etc.
As a result he finds in the Scriptures exactly what he wants to find there: full justification for what he thinks and feels and does.