volume 16, issue 2, 2024, pages 230-247

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsARFH6396
Published online: 2024-12-01
Published in print: 2024-12-30

Abstract: In Wis 14:22 ignorance (ἄγνοια) is said to generate a great war, but what type of ignorance does ἄγνοια mean particularly in this verse? Rather than a mere lack of knowledge or information, or a capacity thereof, there is sufficient contextual evidence to show that ἄγνοια in 14:22 has a different meaning. A comparison with ἀµαθία from ancient Greek philosophy shows that both it and ἄγνοια are used interchangeably; with ἄγνοια assuming the meaning of ἀµαθία. The paper proposes that ἄγνοια in Wis 14:22 should be understood as ἀµαθία.