[Greek] ἀγνοέω (agnoeō), [Latin] ignorare, [Latin] ignorantes, [Latin] ignoramus, [Latin] ignotus: to ignore, to not know, to be ignorant, to pay not attention to, to not recognize, to fail to understand; Mk.9:32, Lk.9:45, Acts 13:27, Acts 17:23, Rom.1:13, Rom.2:4, Rom.6:3, Rom.7:1, Rom.10:3, Rom.11:25, 1Cor.10:1, 1Cor.12:1, 1Cor.14:38, 2Cor.1:8, 2Cor.2:11, 2Cor.6:9, Gal.1:22, 1Thess.4:13, 1Tim.1:13, Heb.5:2, 2Pet.2:12
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to be mistaken, to fail to know, to not recognize, to disregard, to do nothing, to fail to understand, unknown, to go wrong, and to be ignorant.
Aeschylus’ Eumenides 134: “Do not ignore my misery.”
Polybius’ Histories 38.9.5: “The common people were ready to obey any order he gave, being incapable of taking thought for the future.”
Homer’s Odyssey 24.218: “I will see whether he will recognize me and know me by sight or whether he will fail to know me.”
Plato’s Phaedrus 22e: “I have forgotten myself.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 4.156: “They were ignorant of the cause of their misfortune.”
Plato’s Phaedrus 277d: “Ignorance of right or wrong and good and bad is in truth inevitably a disgrace.”
Polybius’ Histories 5.11.5: “It is the act of the tyrant to inflict injury, and so to maintain his power over unwilling subjects by terror.”
Plato’s Gorgias 517c: “For during all this time that we have been debating, we have never ceased circling around to the same point and misunderstanding each other.”
Old Testament: This term means to be ignorant, to not know, unknown, to be wrong, to be unsure, to trespass, and to be foolish. This term is often defined by one’s relationship with God. Not knowing may translate to ignorance, error, rejection, and disobedience of God.
New Testament: This term means not understanding (ignorant), not acknowledging (recognizing), unaware, and unknown. The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when He said He will be handed over to men, will be killed, and will rise from the dead. The Jews failed to recognize that He would be condemned, fulfilling prophecy. Paul, appealing to the Athenians’ religiosity, mentioned that they worship an unknown God. Paul, previously known as the Pharasaic persecutor of Christians, is personally unknown by the Judean Christian churches. Paul frequently made efforts to make his congregation not be unaware of important issues.
Scripture:
“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men. But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.” Lk.9:44-45
The disciples, in their ignorance, not only failed to understand Jesus’ statements, but failed to ask what He meant. The disciples were clearly clueless.”
“For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore, you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.” Acts 17:25
Paul appeals to the Greeks’ religiosity (belief in multiple gods). Paul recognizes that the Greeks also share the human desire to seek God. Paul mentions that this God does not need to be served by human hands.
“If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged.” 1Cor.14:38
This is a person who does not recognize Paul’s authority. Unable to recognize such a truth, this person is of no concern or matter to Paul. This person, not knowing such truth, is also not known (recognized) by God.
Etymology: The Latin verb form ignoramus means “we are ignorant” or “we do not know”. This originally conveyed the neutral idea of a lack of knowledge. Now this term is meant as an insult.
Conclusion:
Ignorance, ignore, ignoramus, agnostic
In Greek Hellenism, it was interesting to discover the nuanced meanings of this term. These meanings could be applicable in any point in history in terms of human behavior. References are made to our collective time-honored failures of being short-sited, misunderstanding each other, misunderstanding right from wrong, and misunderstanding what we stand for.
In the New Testament, the disciples are ‘perfect’ examples of what it means to lack understanding and to be clueless. Paul provides a very insightful observation about the pagan Greeks’ unknowing desire to know God. I really wasn’t aware of the many times Paul said to his readers; “I don’t want you to be unaware” ☺ The Corinthians were often unaware of their problems (abuses) they had.
Paul illustrates the Old Testament notion that ignorance of Paul’s authority can have consequences. This person is such of a mind that Paul cannot reach him. This person can no longer be Paul’s concern. God will also not know or recognize this person.
Update: Some willingly ignored and dismissed Hunter Biden’s laptop as Russian disinformation for political purposes.
These same people are now being criticized for failing to acknowledge Hunter Biden’s laptop as genuine.
We all must not ignore the human loss and misery in Ukraine.
The cultural wars often come from the ignorance, redefining, and clashing of values (of right or wrong).
The tyrant is one who willingly fails to know (or recognize) what is right and wrong.
We cannot ignore the fact that we must use existing and available resources to become energy independent.
Europe cannot ignore the fact that they cannot reliably depend on Russia for their energy needs.
We cannot ignore the fact that Russia’s govt. cannot be trusted in what they say and do.
We cannot ignore the fact that Russia may take over some cities in eastern Ukraine.
We cannot ignore the fact that talking about and setting up commissions will not stop the atrocities and genocide being committed by the Russians. (This is of great concern regarding human conscience and decency!)
As we learn more and more about the Ukraine war, we are seeing more destruction and devastation. There is an impetus for the need to make stronger sanctions against Russia. It cannot be ignored that nations are able to apply more sanctions (regarding trading status) on Russia. The claims and evidence of crimes against humanity unfortunately have grown all the more stronger in Ukraine.
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