II Corinthians 1:8 “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:”
In this context, those who are “ignorant” have both the Spiritual and mental capacity to learn and understand; but, they simply do not have the necessary knowledge to faithfully endure their “sufferings” (II Corinthians 1:7), referred to as “trouble” here. In some cases, folks are “ignorant” because they ignore the facts, the truth that is right before them; that is, they are “willingly … ignorant”. In some cases, folks “sin through ignorance” (Leviticus 4:2), it is still “sin”, but the Lord is very compassionate toward those who “sin through ignorance”. The Psalmist referred to a time in which he was “ignorant”, he “was as a beast” before the Lord (Psalm 73:21); that is, he was motivated and guided by natural things and not by the Spirit of God, yet he was “continually with” the Lord; and, he said that the Lord “hast holden me by my right hand” (Psalm 73:22-23). Isaiah said that the “watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” (Isaiah 56:10); in this case, he refers to Spiritual Leaders (Pastor/Preachers) who ignore the truth of God and mislead the Children of God and some are simply lazy and will not sincerely apply themselves to their ministry. Often, like the Apostles, the ministers of God are indeed “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13) in the sciences, grammar, social graces, etc., but the Lord has made them wonderfully wise in Spiritual things. Some folks “ignorantly worship” other gods (Acts 17:23), but rejoice when the Lord blesses them to hear the truth of God. But, in II Corinthians 1:7-10, Paul instructs the Corinthians and us so that we will not be “ignorant” of how our Lord mercifully and graciously delivers us in even the most severe “sufferings”, “trouble”, so that we will not fall into despair when we are in the heat of our “sufferings” and “trouble”!