Does being ignorant in the Bible mean someone is not intelligent?
No. Being ignorant in the Bible does not mean a lack of brain power or low intelligence. A person can have the most brilliant mind on earth and still be ignorant of many things simply because he has never been taught those disciplines. Ignorance means lacking instruction, not lacking mental capacity.
Les explains that he has always qualified the word “ignorant.” He says ignorance does not mean a lack of brain power. You can have the most brilliant mind on earth and still be ignorant of many things because you have never been taught other disciplines. He uses electricity as an example: he may have a fairly good level of intelligence, but he was never taught much about electricity, so he is ignorant of it. In the same way, if we have not been taught something, we are ignorant. That is not a downplay of intelligence; it just means those Jews had never been taught. Earlier, he notes the Pharisees were religious but had no knowledge and were totally ignorant of the things of God.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Why are people ignorant of things according to the Bible?
Scripture teaches that people are ignorant of things because they have never been taught; ignorance is not a lack of brain power. Even a brilliant mind remains ignorant of disciplines never learned. The Jews were zealous for God yet ignorant of His things, having never been taught.
Can a brilliant person be ignorant of something?
Yes. Ignorance does not mean a lack of brain power; even the most brilliant mind on earth can remain ignorant of many things because it has never been taught those other disciplines. If someone has not been taught a subject, they are ignorant of it, regardless of intelligence.