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The Interpretation of Prophecy Part One Introduction

In this preliminary chapter, Patrick Fairbairn sets forth his purpose and objectives in presenting his work. He observes that prophecy is a unique species of writing in Holy Scripture that requires careful discrimination to arrive at principles which will yield true and faithful interpretation. The lack of these principles will inevitably produce mistaken views, and potentially dangerous results. [Aside: As Fairbairn was vexed by this in his own time, so we are in ours. In the preface he refers to several pre-millennial, date-setting, anti-christ naming situations which immediately call to mind Hal Lindsey, et al.]

The exegete must therefore labor to understand what are the special characteristics of prophecy as a whole, and also the peculiar qualities which are present in some prophetic writing, and absent in others. The absence of these kind of principles, widely accepted and applied, is the cause of many diverse views among Christians which have and do cause trouble and confusion in the Church.