An eminent Scotch divine, was born in Ayrshire in 1721. He studied in the University of Glasgow, but, like many of the Presbyterian divines both of his own country and of England, went abroad, and finished his studies at Leyden. On his return he entered the ministry in the Scotch Church (in 1753) as pastor of Maybole, in Ayrshire. Here he spent sixteen years, during which time he prepared three works: “A Harmony of the Gospels” (Lond. 1756, 2 vols. 4to), with copious illustrations, being, in fact, a life of Christ, embracing everything which the evangelists have related concerning him:—“A New Translation of the Epistles” (published in 1795 in 4 vols. 4to, and later in 6 vols. 8vo.):—and “Truth of Gospel History” (1763, 4to). These works were favorably received, and are to this day highly esteemed. The “Harmony” has been repeatedly printed, and to the later editions there are added several dissertations on curious points in the history or antiquities of the Jews. The theology of them is what is called moderately orthodox. For these his valuable services to sacred literature Dr. Macknight received the rewards in the power of the Presbyterian Church to give. The Degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Edinburgh. In 1769 he was removed from Maybole to the more desirable parish of Jedburgh, and in 1772 he became one of the ministers at Edinburgh. Here he continued for the remainder of his life, useful in the ministry and an ornament to the Church. He died Jan. 13, 1800.
Personal
I think I see his large, square, bony visage, his enormous white wig, girdled by many tiers of curls, his old, snuffy black clothes, his broad, flat feet, and his thread-bare blue greatcoat…. He rarely walked without reading. His elbows were stuck, immovably onto his haunches, on which they rested as brackets and enabled him to form a desk for his book. In this attitude he shuffled forward (in the Meadows) at the rate of half an inch each step; moving his rigid, angular bulk straight forward, without giving place to any person or thing, or being aware indeed that there was anything in the world except himself and his volume.
An estimable and learned divine, whose “Harmony of the Gospels” was regarded in its day as a marvel of criticism, though simple folk wondered that the doctor should write a book to “make four men agree who never cast oot.”
General
Dr. Macknight closely adheres to the principle of Osiander; but his paraphrase and commentary contain so much useful information that his “Harmony” has long been regarded as a standard book among divines. It is in the lists of Bishops Watson and Tomline. The preliminary disquisitions greatly enhance its value.
This [“Harmony”] is the most valuable work of the kind in the English language. Less violence is done to the text of the Evangelists than by most harmonies; and the evangelical narratives, by being minutely compared, often very happily illustrate one another…. His preliminary observations contain useful information: his notes are seldom profound: and the paraphrase contains sentiments which do not accord with the doctrine of the Evangelists…. This is one of the most useful [“Apostolical Epistles”] and one of the most dangerous books on the New Testament,—which has thrown considerable light on the Epistles, and, at the same time, has propagated most pernicious views of their leading doctrines…. As a critical work it is entitled to rank high…. His notes discover very considerable acquaintance with sacred criticism, and, had they contained less of his erroneous theology, would have been very valuable.
Nor let the name of Macknight be forgotten. His works are, indeed, the more exclusive property of the disciplined theological student; but the general reader will do well to secure his inviting quartos upon the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament. In these he will find learning without pedantry, and piety without enthusiasm. In short, no theological collection can be perfect without them. If any man may be said to have exhausted his subject, it is Macknight.
BALMER—“Pray, sir, do you admire Macknight as a commentator?” HALL—“Yes, sir, I do, very much: I think it would be exceedingly difficult, indeed, to come after him in expounding the apostolic epistles. I admit, at the same time, that he has grievous deficiencies: there is a lamentable want of spirituality and elevation about him. He never sets his foot in the other world if he can get a hole to step into in this; and he never gives a passage a meaning which would render it applicable and useful in all ages if he can find in it any local or temporary allusion. He makes fearful havoc, sir, of the text on which you preached to-day. His exposition of it is inimitably absurd.” The text referred to was Ephesians i. 8: “Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence;” and the “wisdom and prudence” are explained by Macknight, not of the wisdom of God as displayed in the scheme of redemption, but of the wisdom and prudence granted to the apostles to enable them to discharge their office.
This work [“Truth of Gospel History Shewed”] is admitted by the best judges to be a performance as useful and instructive as any we have on that important subject.
McKnight’s “Harmony” is one of the standard works in the literature of the subject…. McKnight on the “Epistles” is also one of the standard works which every theologian wishes to have in his library. Neither of these works is exhaustive or final. The science of hermeneutics have made great advance since McKnight’s day. Yet they are works of great ability and of original research and no interpreter even now can safely pass them by as superseded.
His style had little elegance or ornament, but it is clear and pertinent to the subject.
