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
" 'But if you go astray and you do not follow all these commandments that Yahweh commanded to Moses, all that Yahweh commanded you by the hand of Moses from the day that Yahweh commanded and beyond, throughout your generations, read more. and if it was done unintentionally {without the knowledge} of the community, then the entire community must prepare one {young bull} as a burnt offering, as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh, and its grain offering and its libation, according to the stipulation, and one male goat as a sin offering. The priest will make atonement for all of the community of the {Israelites}, and {they will be forgiven} because it [was] unintentional; they will bring their offering, an offering made by fire for Yahweh, their sin offering {before Yahweh} for their unintentional sin. All of the community of the {Israelites} will be forgiven, as well as the alien that dwells in their midst, because the whole community [was involved] in the unintentional wrong. " 'If one person sins unintentionally, that person will present a female goat {in its first year} as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for the person who {sinned unintentionally} {before Yahweh}, to make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. [For] the native among the {Israelites} and the alien that dwells in their midst, there will be one law for anyone who commits an unintentional wrong. But the one {who acts presumptuously} from among the native or alien blasphemes against Yahweh, and that person must be cut off from the midst of the people. Because he despised the word of Yahweh and broke his command, that person will be surely cut off and bear the guilt.'" When the {Israelites} were in the desert, they found a man who was gathering wood on the day of the Sabbath.
Now the sons of Eli [were] {worthless scoundrels}; they did not know Yahweh.
Hear the word of Yahweh, children of Israel, for Yahweh has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or loyalty, there is no knowledge of God in the land.
Because I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit does not have forgiveness {forever}, but is guilty of [an] eternal sin"--
[[But Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."]] And they cast lots to divide his clothes.
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.
Therefore [although] God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and unrighteousness of people, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance [that] is in them, because of the hardness of their heart,
Beware lest {anyone take you captive} through philosophy and empty deceit, according to {human tradition}, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ,
[although I] was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, but I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
being able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself also is surrounded by weakness,
but only the high priest [enters] into the second [tent] once a year, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and the [sins] of the people committed in ignorance.
If anyone should see his brother sinning a sin not [leading] to death, he should ask, and he will grant life to him, to those who sin not [leading] to death. ([There] is a sin [leading] to death; I do not say that he should ask about that.