Reference: Ignorance
Hastings
It appears to be in accordance with natural justice that ignorance should be regarded as modifying moral responsibility, and this is fully recognized in the Scriptures. In the OT, indeed, the knowledge of God is often spoken of as equivalent to true religion (see Knowledge), and therefore ignorance is regarded as its opposite (1Sa 2:12; Ho 4:1; 6:6). But the Levitical law recognizes sins of ignorance as needing some expiation, but with a minor degree of guilt (Le 4; Nu 15:22-32). So 'ignorances' are spoken of in 1Es 8:75 (RV 'errors'), Tob 3:3, Sir 23:2 f. as partly involuntary (cf. Heb 5:2; 9:7). The whole of the OT, however, is the history of a process of gradual moral and spiritual enlightenment, so that actions which are regarded as pardonable, or even praiseworthy, at one period, become inexcusable in a more advanced state of knowledge. In the NT the difference between the 'times of ignorance' and the light of Christianity is recognized in Ac 17:30 (cf. 1Ti 1:13; 1Pe 1:14), and ignorance is spoken of as modifying responsibility in Ac 3:17; 1Co 2:8; Lu 23:34. This last passage, especially, suggests that sin is pardonable because it contains an element of ignorance, while Mr 3:29 appears to contemplate the possibility of an absolutely wilful choice of evil with full knowledge of what it is, which will be unpardonable (cf. 1Jo 5:16). Immoral and guilty ignorance is also spoken of in Ro 1:18 ff., Eph 4:18. For the question whether Christ in His human nature could be ignorant, see Kenosis, Knowledge.
J. H. Maude.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And when ye shall make a mistake, and not observe all these commandments, - which Yahweh hath spoken unto Moses; even all that Yahweh hath given unto you in command, by the hand of Moses, - from the day that Yahweh gave command, and onward unto your generations, read more. then shall it be - if, any from the eyes of the assembly, it hath been done by mistake, that all the assembly shall offer one choice young bullock for an ascending-sacrifice as a satisfying odour unto Yahweh, with the meal-offering thereof and the drink-offering thereof, according to the regulation, - and one young he-goat as a sin-bearer. So shall the priest put a propitiatory, covering over all the assembly of the sons of Israel and pardon shall be granted unto them, - because a mistake, it was, they, therefore have brought in their offering - an altar-flame unto Yahweh and their sin-bearer before Yahweh for their mistake: and pardon shall be granted unto all the assembly of the sons of Israel and unto the sojourner that sojourneth in their midst, - for, in the case of all the people, it was, by mistake. And if, any one person, shall sin by mistake, then shall he bring near a she-goat of the first year as a sin-bearer; and the priest shall put a propitiatory-covering over the person who hath made the mistake, when he hath sinned by mistake before Yahweh, even put a propitiatory-covering over him, and pardon shall be granted him. For the native born among the sons of Israel, and for the sojourner that sojourneth in their midst, one law, shall there be unto you - for acting by mistake. But, as for the person who acteth with a high hand - of the native born or of the sojourners, Yahweh himself, he, reproacheth, - therefore shall that person be cut off out of the midst of his people. Because the word of Yahweh, hath he despised, and his commandment, hath he broken, that person shall be surely cut off, his iniquity, is in himself. While the sons of Israel were in the desert, they found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day.
Now, the sons of Eli, were abandoned men, - they knew not Yahweh.
Hear the word of Yahweh, ye sons of Israel, - that, a controversy, hath Yahweh with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, nor lovingkindness, nor knowledge of God, in the land:
For, lovingkindness, I desired, and not sacrifice, - and the knowledge of God, more than ascending-offerings.
But, whosoever shall revile against the Holy Spirit, hath no forgiveness, unto times age-abiding, - but is guilty of an age-abiding sin:
And, when they were parting his garments, they cast lots.
And now brethren, I know that by way of ignorance ye acted, - just as even your rulers.
The times of ignorance, therefore, overlooking, God, as things now are, is charging all men everywhere to repent,
For there is being revealed an anger of God from heaven - against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who, the truth, in unrighteousness, do hold down; -
Being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God - by reason of the ignorance that existeth within them, by reason of their hearts being turned into stone,
Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, - according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, - and not according to Christ:
Though, formerly, a defamer, and persecutor, and insulter; nevertheless mercy was shown me, because, without knowledge, I acted, in unbelief:
Able, to have a measure of feeling, for the ignorant and erring, - since, he also, is compassed with weakness;
But, into the second, once for all in the year, only the high-priest, not without blood, which he offered for himself and the ignorances of the people:
If one should see his brother committing a sin, not unto death, he shall ask, and He will grant unto him life, - for them who are sinning, not unto death. There, is, a sin, unto death: not concerning that, am I saying, that he should make request.