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
If ye oversee yourselves and observe not all these commandments which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses, and all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the first day forward that the LORD commanded among your generation: read more. when ought is committed ignorantly before the eyes of the congregation, then all the multitude shall offer a calf for a burnt offering to be a sweet savour unto the LORD, and the meat offering and the drink offering thereto, according to the manner: and a he-goat for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for all the multitude of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it was ignorance. And they shall bring their gifts unto the offering of the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD for their ignorance. And it shall be forgiven unto all the multitude of the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that dwelleth among you: for the ignorance pertaineth unto all the people. If any one soul sin through ignorance he shall bring a she-goat of a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinned ignorantly with the sin offering before the LORD and reconcile him, and it shall be forgiven him. And both thou that art born one of the children of Israel and the stranger that dwelleth among you shall have both one law, if ye sin through ignorance. "'And the soul that doth ought presumptuously, whether he be an Israelite or a stranger, the same hath despised the LORD. And that soul shall be destroyed from among his people, because he hath despised the word of the LORD and hath broken his commandments, that soul therefore shall perish and his sin shall be upon him.'" And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the Sabbath day.
But the sons of Eli were unthrifty children, and knew not the LORD. For the manner of the priests with the people was:
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye children of Israel: For the LORD must punish them, that dwell in the land. And why? There is no faithfulness, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the land:
For I have pleasure in loving-kindness, and not in offering: Yea in the knowledge of God, more than in burnt sacrifice.
but he that blasphemeth the holy ghost shall never have forgiveness: but is in danger of eternal damnation."
Then said Jesus, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
And now, brethren, I know well that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your heads.
And the time of this ignorance God regarded not: but now he biddeth all men everywhere to repent,
For the wrath of God appeareth from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness.
blinded in their understanding, being strangers from the life which is in God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.
Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.
when before I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a tyrant. But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly, through unbelief:
which can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the high way, because that he himself also is compassed with infirmity:
But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year: and not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the ignorance of the people.
If any man see his brother sin a sin that is not to death, let him ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, for which say I not that a man should pray.