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 err, and shall not do all these commands which Jehovah spake to Moses, All which Jehovah commanded to you by the hand of Moses from the day which Jehovah commanded, and onward to your generations; read more. And it was if from the eyes of the assembly there was done in error, all the assembly did a bullock, the son of a cow, for a burnt-offering, for an odor of sweetness to Jehovah, and its gift and its libation, according to judgment, and one he goat of the goats for sin. And the priest expiated for all the assembly of the sons of Israel, and it was forgiven to them; for it is an error; and they brought their offering a sacrifice to Jehovah, and their sin before Jehovah, for their error. And it was forgiven to all the assembly of the sons of Israel, and to the stranger sojourning in the midst of them, to all the people in error. And if one soul shall sin in. error, and he brought a she goat the daughter of a goat, for sin. And the priest expiated for the soul erring, in sinning in error before Jehovah, to expiate for him; and it was forgiven to him. The native among the sons of Israel, and to the stranger sojourning in the midst of them, one law shall be to you, for doing in error. And the soul which shall do with a high hand, from the native, and from the stranger, it reproaches Jehovah, and that soul was cut off from the midst of its people. For it despised the word of Jehovah, and broke his command; being cut off, that soul shall be cut off; its iniquity upon it And the sons of Israel shall be in the desert, and they shall find a man gathering wood in the day of the Sabbath.
And the sons of Eli, sons of Beli-al; they knew not Jehovah.
Hear the word of Jehovah, ye sons of Israel: for a contention to Jehovah with the inhabitants of the land, for no truth and no kindness and no knowledge of God in the land.
For I delighted in mercy and not sacrifice; the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
And whoever should defame against the Holy Spirit has no remission forever, but he is liable to the penalty of eternal condemnation.
And Jesus said, Father, let them go; for they know not what they do. And having divided his garments, they cast lots.
And now, brethren, I know that ye did in ignorance, as also your rulers.
Therefore truly, God having overlooked the times of ignorance, now announces to all men everywhere to repent:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all profanation and injustice of men, of those detaining the truth in injustice;
Being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God by ignorance being in them, by the hardness of their heart;
See ye lest any be carrying you off by philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
Being before slandering, expelling, and an abuser: but I was commiserated, because I did, not knowing, in unbelief.
Being able to moderate the passions to the ignorant, and deceived; since he also is surrounded with weakness.
And into the second the chief priest alone once a year, not without blood, which he brings near for himself, and the errors of the people:
If any see his brother sinning a sin not to death, he shall ask, and sinning will give him life to them sinning not to death. There is a sin to death: I say not of that, that he should ask.