Plenty can be learnt from the Psalms

THANKS to Mike Crowl for his column ‘‘The importance of the Psalms’’ (ODT, 3.8.18).

Readers may be interested in this story involving theologian, the late Rev Prof George Knight, author of a twovolume commentary on the Psalms in the series The Daily Study Bible.

After a stint as principal at a Pacific theological college and then taking a position at, I think, Aberdeen Theological College, he wrote in his autobiography What Next? that the head of faculty there told him, ‘‘You must not teach from the Psalms: there is nothing in them.’’

Prof Knight was so indignant that he gave his resignation forthwith and emigrated to Dunedin where he completed his career at Knox Theological Hall, during which time he served a term as moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

George Knight was a highly respected and loved man of God. During World War 2 he helped many Jews to safety at much personal risk.

I was once asked: ‘‘Did you know George Knight can speak 13 languages?’’. When I repeated this to him, he chuckled and modestly said, ‘‘Yes, but five of them are dead languages’’.

He continued teaching, writing and ministering in Dunedin and beyond for the rest of his life.

William Christie

Gore