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 err and do not observe all these commandments which the LORD has spoken unto Moses, even all that the LORD has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and from then on, for your ages, read more. then it shall be, if the sin was committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock as a burnt offering, for an acceptable savour unto the LORD with its present and its drink offering, according to the law, and one he goat as the sin. And the priest shall reconcile all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it is ignorance; and they shall bring their offering, an offering on fire unto the LORD and their sins before the LORD which they committed in their ignorance. And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the sons of Israel and the stranger that sojourns among them, seeing all the people were in ignorance. And if any person sins through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year as the sin. And the priest shall reconcile the soul that errs ignorantly, when he sins by ignorance before the LORD, he shall be reconciled; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have the same law for the one that sins through ignorance, both for the natural born among the sons of Israel and for the stranger that sojourns among them. But the person that does something consciously, whether they are natural born or a stranger, the same reproaches the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has made void his commandment, that person shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. And while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered firewood upon the sabbath day.
But the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they did not know the LORD.
Hear the word of the LORD, ye sons of Israel; for the LORD contends with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the earth.
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit shall never have forgiveness but is obligated to eternal judgment,
Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.
And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance ye did it as did also your princes.
For the times of this ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men everywhere to repent
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of men, who hold back the truth with injustice;
having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart,
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious, but I was received unto mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
who can have compassion on the ignorant and on those that are in error; for he himself is also compassed with weakness.
But into the second the high priest went alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for his own ignorance, and for that of the people:
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask God, and he shall give him life that is, unto those that do not sin unto death. There is sin unto death, for which I do not say that you should pray.