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Does God overlook our ignorance? (Acts 17:30)
30 Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now He charges all people everywhere to repent (to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins), 31 Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
Acts 17:22 - 34
ESV - 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
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Asked August 14 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
I would say that God overlooked the ignorance to which Paul was referring during the period prior to Christ's incarnation (when He dealt specifically with the descendants of Abraham as His chosen people leading up to that event), as well as prior to the clear indication that salvation was extended to Gentiles as well as Jews (Acts 10). However, now that those events have occurred, and (especially) have been recorded for all time, as well, in the Bible so that all of humanity could have access to them, the period of that forbearance by God has ended, and ignorance is no longer a valid excuse for failure to obtain the salvation and eternal life that God has made possible through faith in Christ (as also noted by Paul in Romans 1:18-32).
Lisa Clayton
Supporter
I’m my opinion I’m not sure he overlooks it or tolerates it. We are to be humble. Jesus is our only way.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
"Therefore, although God has overlooked 1 such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent," NET Notes 1 tn Or “has deliberately paid no attention to.” I think because of the following cross-references that God overlooked such ignorance in the past to let those people experience first-hand their need of salvation: Acts 14:16 "Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways." Psalm 50:21 "These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes." Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
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