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 if you have erred and have not done all these commandments which Jehovah has spoken to Moses, all that Jehovah has commanded you by the hand of Moses from the day that Jehovah commanded, and onward in your generations, read more. then it shall be if it is committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, all the congregation shall offer up one young bull for a burnt offering, for a sweet savor to Jehovah, with its food offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it is ignorance. And they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire to Jehovah, and their sin offering before Jehovah, for their ignorance. And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the sons of Israel and the stranger that lives among them, since all the people were in ignorance. And if one soul sins through ignorance, then he shall bring a female goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul, when he sins through error before Jehovah, to make an atonement for him. And it shall be forgiven him. And you shall have one law for him who acts through ignorance; for him that is native among the sons of Israel and for the alien that resides among them. But the soul who acts with a high hand, whether of the native or of the alien, the same blasphemes Jehovah. And that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the Word of Jehovah and has broken His commandment, that soul shall be utterly cut off. His iniquity shall be upon him. And while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day.
And the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. They did not know Jehovah.
Hear the Word of Jehovah, sons of Israel. For Jehovah has a quarrel with the people of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never shall have forgiveness, but is liable to eternal condemnation.
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And parting His clothing, they cast lots.
And now, brothers, I know that you did it through ignorance, as also your rulers did.
Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent,
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
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 anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
the one who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and insolent. But I obtained mercy, because being ignorant, I did it in unbelief.
who can have compassion on the ignorant and on those who are out of the way. For he himself also is compassed with weakness.
But once in the year into the second the high priest goes alone, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people)
If anyone sees his brother sin a sin not to death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for those that do not sin to death. There is a sin to death, I do not say that he shall pray for it.