Difference between revisions of "Ignorance"

== Charles Buck Theological Dictionary <ref name="term_19928" /> ==

<p> The want of knowledge or instruction. It is often used to denote illiteracy. Mr. Locke observes, that the causes of ignorance are chiefly three. </p> <p> 1. [[Want]] of ideas. </p> <p> 2. Want of a discoverable connection between the ideas we have. </p> <p> 3. Want of tracing and examining our ideas. </p> <p> As it respects religion, ignorance has been distinguished into three sorts: </p> <p> 1. An invincible ignorance, in which the will has no part. It is an insult upon justice to suppose it will punish men because they were ignorant of things which they were physically incapable of knowing. </p> <p> 2. There is a wilful and obstinate ignorance; such as ignorance, far from exculpating, aggravates a man's crimes. </p> <p> 3. A sort of ignorance which is neither entirely wilful, nor entirely invincible; as when a man has the means of knowledge, and does not use them. </p> <p> See KNOWLEDGE; and Locke on the Und. vol. 2: p. 178; Grove's Mor. Phil. vol. 2: p. 26, 29, 64; Watts on the Mind. </p>

Leviticus 4:24:13-14Numbers 15:24-29Numbers 15:30-31Leviticus 4:134:224:27Leviticus 4:1Leviticus 5:5-6Numbers 15:30-31Leviticus 5:18Psalm 119:10Job 4:4Proverbs 19:27 <p> The New [[Testament]] speaks of past ignorance which [[God]] excuses. Such was the ignorance of those [[Jews]] who participated in crucifying [[Jesus]] (Acts 3:17; Acts 13:27 ), of [[Paul]] who persecuted [[Christians]] (1 Timothy 1:13 ), and of [[Gentiles]] who did not recognize the true God (Acts 17:30 ). [[Though]] God “winks at” such past ignorance, He requires repentance (Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30 ). [[Obedience]] characterizes lives of the converted just as ignorant desires characterize those without [[Christ]] (1 Peter 1:14 ). The New Testament speaks of deliberate ignorance as well as “excusable” ignorance. Most often deliberate ignorance involves the stubborn refusal to acknowledge nature's witness to the powerful existence of God (Romans 1:18-21; Ephesians 4:18; 2 Peter 3:5 ). </p>

== Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible <ref name="term_51767" /> ==

<p> <strong> IGNORANCE </strong> . 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 ( 1 Samuel 2:12 , Hosea 4:1; Hosea 6:6 ). But the [[Levitical]] law recognizes sins of ignorance as needing some expiation, but with a minor degree of guilt ( Leviticus 4:1-35 , Numbers 15:22-32 ). So ‘ <strong> ignorances </strong> ’ are spoken of in 1Es 8:75 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘errors’), [[Tob]] 3:3 , [[Sir]] 23:2 f. as partly involuntary (cf. Hebrews 5:2; Hebrews 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 Acts 17:30 (cf. 1 Timothy 1:13 , 1 Peter 1:14 ), and ignorance is spoken of as modifying responsibility in Acts 3:17 , 1 Corinthians 2:8 , Luke 23:34 . This last passage, especially, suggests that sin is pardonable because it contains an element of ignorance, while Mark 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. 1 John 5:16 ). Immoral and guilty ignorance is also spoken of in Romans 1:18 ff., Ephesians 4:18 . For the question whether [[Christ]] in His human nature could be ignorant, see Kenosis, [[Knowledge.]] </p> <p> J. H. Maude. </p>

== Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament <ref name="term_56193" /> ==

<p> As the apostolic writers dealt mostly with moral and spiritual matters, they usually spoke of ignorance in a sense that was not merely intellectual. [[Thus]] (Ephesians 4:18) the ignorance of the [[Gentiles]] was associated with vanity of mind, darkening of understanding, alienation from God, and hardening of heart, in a way that linked it to the deeper faculties of the soul. Even νοῦς is the faculty for recognizing moral good as well as intellectual truth, and διάνοια includes feeling and desiring as well as understanding. [[Ignorance]] arose, according to the apostles, as much from the condition of the conscience and the spirit as from the state of the mind (cf. 2 Timothy 3:7). [[Holding]] this conception, the apostles taught that ignorance sprang either from the state of the heart or from lack of the [[Christian]] revelation. The latter condition was much dwelt upon, for to all the apostles the Coming of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]] was the shedding forth of so great a light that all who had not seen that light dwelt in darkness, while they insisted also that light sufficient was given in the world to learn about God, if only men had not been led away by evil desires (Romans 1:20). Thus arose the ignorance of [[God]] (Acts 17:23), the yielding to lusts (1 Peter 1:14), the rejection of Jesus of [[Nazareth]] (Acts 3:17), and, in St. Paul’s own experience, the persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ (Acts 26:9). </p> <p> The double source of these sins of ignorance led to God’s method of dealing with them. As they arose from evil in men, they were not left unpunished by God (Romans 1:28); but, as they were done in ignorance of the full revelation, they were ‘winked at’ or ‘overlooked’ by God (Acts 17:30), or in the forbearance of God were passed over (Romans 3:25). This passing over (πάρεσις) did not exclude punishment, and was not equivalent to forgiveness (ἄφεσις); but it prepared the way for repentance (Acts 3:19) and for the receiving of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:13). </p> <p> The densest ignorance came to those who had heard the gospel of Christ and had persisted in rejecting it, for on them the curse foretold by Isaiah was abiding (Acts 28:26). Such people, whatever their superficial knowledge might be, were walking in such darkness that they were content to live in sin and to be guilty of hatred of their brothers (1 John 3:6; 1 John 2:11). </p> <p> Even in the experience of those who had come to a knowledge of Christ as [[Saviour]] and Lord there existed much ignorance. </p> <p> (1) If Christ Himself knew not the day of the [[Great]] Appearing, it was not to be wondered at that the times and the seasons for the coming of God’s [[Kingdom]] in glory were hid from His disciples (Acts 1:7). It is evident from some of the apostolic writings (cf. 1 Thess.) that many believed that the Great Day was to come almost immediately, and were totally ignorant of the delay that was to ensue. </p> <p> (2) [[Another]] subject of which there was much ignorance was the state of the dead. The apostles in their eschatology did little to dispel the darkness connected with the present condition of the dead. Sometimes they referred to the blessedness of those ‘with Christ’ (Philippians 1:23), sometimes to their quiescence in a state of sleep (1 Corinthians 15:20), and sometimes to the activities carried on (1 Peter 4:6), but the intermediate state was comparatively uninteresting to the [[Apostolic]] Age, as their main thought centred in the [[Resurrection]] and the Parousia. Even with regard to these great events of the future there was not always assured knowledge; disciples of Christ were not only doubtful of the Resurrection, but even opposed to its teaching, and St. [[Paul]] laboured to dispel their ignorance; while many sorrowed about their brethren who had passed away as if they had lost the opportunity of being present at the [[Parousia]] of Christ, not knowing that both those asleep and those alive would then together meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15). </p> <p> (3) According to the apostles, ignorance could never be wholly eliminated from Christian life, while the circle of knowledge must be constantly enlarged. The apostles were never content to leave even the humblest [[Christians]] in a state of ignorance, and one indication of this desire may be found in the phrase that recurs so often in the [[Epistles]] of St. Paul: ‘I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren’ (Romans 1:13; Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13). But the apostles acknowledged that ignorance was found even in the most mature Christian experience. Thus they taught that there had been revealed to all Christians the great end of their life, viz. the perfecting of salvation, but they indicated that there was constantly shown a real ignorance of what was needed at any particular crisis in life. Hence Christians knew not what to pray for as they should at particular moments (Romans 8:26), but in this ignorance the [[Holy]] [[Spirit]] helped within the heart by unutterable groanings. Still further, Christian experience was limited by its own capacity in face of the boundlessness of the [[Divine]] attributes. The apostles proclaimed that the love of God was made known pre-eminently in the life and death of Christ, but there were depths in God’s love that could never be fathomed by human knowledge. Christians knew that love, but even at the end they had to confess their ignorance, for it passed knowledge (Ephesians 3:19). The apostles had no hesitancy in believing in a real knowledge of God, but they declared that a complete or exhaustive knowledge lay beyond even the most mature Christian experience. The only thorough [[Agnosticism]] spoken of by the apostles was such as certain Corinthians were in danger of, according to St. Paul, and was associated with their low ethics, their heathen intimacies, and their disbelief in the Resurrection. These characteristics were liable to produce a persistent ignorance of God (ἀγνωσία θεοῦ, 1 Corinthians 15:34) which was shared with the worst of the heathen and from which they could be saved only by being aroused from the stupor of pride and sensualism. </p> <p> D. Macrae Tod. </p>

== King James Dictionary <ref name="term_60927" /> ==

<p> IG'NORANCE, n. L. ignorantia ignoro,not to know ignarus, ignorant in and gnarus, knowing. </p> 1. Want, absence or destitution of knowledge the negative state of the mind which has not been instructed in arts, literature or science, or has not been informed of facts. [[Ignorance]] may be general, or it may be limited to particular subjects. Ignorance of the law does not excuse a man for violating it. Ignorance of facts if often venial. <p> Ignorance is preferable to error. </p> 2. Ignorances, in the plural, is used sometimes for omissions or mistakes but the use is uncommon and not to be encouraged.

<p> ''''' ig´nō̇ ''''' - ''''' rans ''''' ( שׁגגה , <i> ''''' sheghāghāh ''''' </i> ; ἂγνοια , <i> ''''' ágnoia ''''' </i> ): "Ignorance" is the translation of <i> ''''' sheghāghāh ''''' </i> , "wandering," "going astray" ( Leviticus 4:2 , etc., "if a soul sin through ignorance," the Revised Version (British and American) "unwittingly," margin "through error"; Leviticus 5:15; Numbers 15:24; compare Numbers 35:11; Joshua 20:3; Ecclesiastes 5:6; Ecclesiastes 10:5 , "an error"). In the Law <i> '''''sheghāghāh''''' </i> means "innocent error," such as had to be taken with consideration in judgment (see passages referred to). "Ignorance" is also expressed by the negative <i> '''''lō'''''' </i> with <i> '''''yādha‛''''' </i> , "to know" (Isaiah 56:10; Isaiah 63:16; [[Psalm]] 73:22 ); also by <i> '''''bi''''' </i> - <i> '''''bhelı̄ da‛ath''''' </i> , literally, "in want of knowledge" (Deuteronomy 19:4; compare Deuteronomy 4:12; Joshua 20:5 , translated "unawares," "unwittingly"). </p> <p> In the New [[Testament]] the words are <i> ''''' agnoia ''''' </i> , "absence of knowledge" ( Acts 3:17; Acts 17:30; Ephesians 4:18; 1 Peter 1:14 ); <i> '''''agnóēma''''' </i> , "error" (Hebrews 9:7 , the Revised Version margin "Greek: ignorances"); <i> '''''agnōsı́a''''' </i> , "ignorance" (1 Peter 2:15 ), "no knowledge" (1 Corinthians 15:34 the Revised Version (British and American)); <i> '''''agnoéō''''' </i> , "to be without knowledge," "ignorant" (Romans 1:13; Romans 10:3; Romans 11:25 , etc.), "not knowing" (Romans 2:4 , etc.), "understood not" (Mark 9:32 , etc.), "ignorantly" (Acts 17:23 , the Revised Version (British and American) "in ignorance"; 1 Timothy 1:13 ); <i> '''''idiō̇tēs''''' </i> , translated "ignorant" (Acts 4:13 ), "unlearned" (1 Corinthians 14:16 , the Revised Version margin "him that is without gifts," and so in 1 Corinthians 14:23 , 1 Corinthians 14:14 ), "rude" (2 Corinthians 11:6 ); <i> '''''agrámmatos''''' </i> , once only in connection with <i> '''''idiōtēs''''' </i> (Acts 4:13 , "unlearned and ignorant men"); <i> '''''agrammatos''''' </i> corresponds to modern "illiterate" (compare John 7:15; Acts 26:24 ); <i> '''''idiōtēs''''' </i> originally denoted "the private man" as distinguished from those with a knowledge of affairs, and took on the idea of contempt and scorn. In [[Philo]] it denoted the whole congregation of [[Israel]] as distinguished from the priests ( <i> [[De]] Vita Mosis </i> , Iii 29). With [[Paul]] (1 Corinthians 14:16 , 1 Corinthians 14:23 , 1 Corinthians 14:24 ) it seems to denote "plain believers as distinguished from those with special spiritual gifts." In Acts 4:13 it may refer to the want of <i> [[Jewish]] </i> learning; certainly it does not mean <i> ignorant </i> in the modern sense. </p> <p> Paul in Romans 1:18 , Romans 1:32 attributes the pre-Christian ignorance of [[God]] to "the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness" (but the margin has, with the King James Version, " <i> hold </i> the truth, compare 1 Corinthians 7:30 , Gr"); many, however (Alford, De Wette, Meyer and others), translation "hold back the truth." A willful ignorance is also referred to in Ephesians 4:17 f; 2 Peter 3:5 . But there is also a less blameworthy ignorance. Paul at [[Athens]] spoke of "times of ignorance" which God had "overlooked" (Acts 17:30 ); Paul says of himself that he "obtained mercy, because (he) did it (against Christ) ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:13 ); Peter said to the [[Jews]] (Acts 3:17 ) that they and their rulers rejected [[Christ]] "in ignorance" (compare 1 Corinthians 2:8 ); and [[Jesus]] Himself prayed for those who crucified Him: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"; (Luke 23:34 ); in Hebrews 5:2 the necessary qualification of a high priest is that he "can bear gently with the ignorant and erring" - those who sin in ignorance or go astray (compare Hebrews 9:7 , "blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people," margin "(Greek: ignorances"). [[Growing]] light, however, brings with it increasing responsibility, and the "ignorance" that may be "overlooked" at one stage of the history of men and nations may be blameworthy and even criminal at another. </p>

<p> the want of knowledge or instruction. It is often used to denote illiteracy. Mr. Locke observes that the causes of ignorance are chiefly three: </p> <p> 1, want of ideas; </p> <p> 2, want of a discoverable connection between the ideas we have; </p> <p> 3, want of tracing and examining our ideas. </p> <p> As respects religion, ignorance has been distinguished into three sorts: </p> <p> 1. An invincible ignorance, in which the will has no part. It is an insult upon justice to suppose it will punish men because they were ignorant of things which they were physically incapable of knowing. </p> <p> 2. There is a willful and obstinate ignorance; such an ignorance, far from exculpating, aggravates a man's crimes. </p> <p> 3. A sort of voluntary ignorance, which is neither entirely willful nor entirely invincible, as when a man has the means of knowledge, and does not use them. — Locke, On the Understanding. 2, 178; Grove, [[Moral]] Philosophy, 2, 26, 29, 64; Watts, On the Mind; Henderson's Buck, Theolog. Dict. s.v. (See [[Knowledge]]). </p>

<ref name="term_19928"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/charles-buck-theological-dictionary/ignorance Ignorance from Charles Buck Theological Dictionary]</ref>

<ref name="term_51767"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-bible/ignorance Ignorance from Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible]</ref>

<ref name="term_56193"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-new-testament/ignorance Ignorance from Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament]</ref>

<ref name="term_60927"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/king-james-dictionary/ignorance Ignorance from King James Dictionary]</ref>