Proto-evangelion: the "Old Hope" of the Men of Arda
by John Augustine
In the year 409 of the First Age, during the Long Peace before Melkor broke the Siege of Angband, an important conversation took place between Finrod Felagund and Andreth the Wise-woman. Finrod was a Noldorin Elf, Lord of Nargothrond, son of Finarfin and grandson of Finwë, and known as Edennil (Friend of Men). Andreth was a human woman of the House of Bëor, great-great-granddaughter of Bëor the Old and great-aunt of Beren One-Hand (whom Finrod joined in the Quest of the Silmaril), and known as Saelind (Wise Heart). Their conversation is recorded in Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth, "the Debate of Finrod and Andreth" (which can be found in The History of Middle Earth X: Morgoth's Ring).
The subject of the "debate" between these two friends concerns the brevity of human lives. Is their mortality natural (as Elves had thought) or a result of Melkor the Morgoth's malice (as Men have reason to believe)?
In this conversation, life in Arda among the Children of Eru, the Elves and Men, is considered in three stages (or, perhaps, horizons): Arda Unmarred, Arda Marred, and Arda Healed. In the irretrievable past lies Arda Unmarred, the pure creation Eru (a.k.a. the One, Ilúvatar) first made it to be. Finrod and Andreth's present is Arda Marred, a world tragically diminished and tainted by the evil of Melkor. In an unforeseeable (save by Eru alone) future is the possibility of Arda Healed (or Remade), the same Arda and yet unimaginably greater than even Arda Unmarred.
As Finrod and Andreth discuss the origin and meaning of human mortality, an astonished Finrod begins to speculate that healing Arda, "as agents of the magnificence Eru," is the great errand of Men: "to enlarge the Music [through which Arda and all of Eä was first made] and surpass the Vision of the World!"
Finrod places great trusting hope in the remaking or healing of Arda: "If we [Elves and Men] are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves." Andreth, however, feels the sting of human mortality, and doubts. But some men, she admits, hope for healing: "Among the Atani, as you call us, or the Seekers as we say: those who left the lands of despair and the Men of darkness and journeyed west in vain hope: it is believed that healing may yet be found, or that there is some way of escape." "Those of the 'Old Hope,'" she says, even have an answer how Arda might be healed.
"Those of the Old Hope?" said Finrod. "Who are they?""A few," she said; "but their number has grown since we came to this land, and they see that the Nameless [Melkor, the Morgoth] can (as they think) be defied. Yet.... To defy [Melkor] does not undo his work of old.... [Therefore] it was not on the might of Men, or of any of the peoples of Arda, that the old hope was grounded."
"What then was this hope, if you know?" Finrod asked.
"They say," answered Andreth: "They say that the One [Eru, Ilúvatar] will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end. This they say also, or they feign, is a rumor that has come down through years uncounted, even from the days of our undoing."
"They say, they feign?" said Finrod. "Are you then not one of them?"
"How can I be, lord? All wisdom is against them.... you say: ...Eru is One, alone without peer, and He made Eä, and is beyond it; and the Valar are greater than we [Elves & Men], but yet no nearer to His majesty. Is this not so? ...for that reason the saying of Hope passes my understanding. How could Eru enter into the thing that He has made, and than which He is beyond measure greater? Can the singer enter into his tale or the designer into his picture?"
"He is already in it, as well as outside," said Finrod. "But indeed the 'in-dwelling' and the 'out-living' are not in the same mode."
"Truly," said Andreth. "So may Eru in that mode be present in Eä that proceeded from Him. But they speak of Eru Himself entering into Arda, and that is a thing wholly different. How could He the greater do this? Would it not shatter Arda, or indeed all Eä?"
"Ask me not," said Finrod. "These things are beyond the compass of the wisdom of the Eldar, or of the Valar maybe.... If Eru wished to do this, I do not doubt that He would find a way, though I cannot foresee it. For, as it seems to me, even if He in Himself were to enter in, He must still remain also as He is: the Author without. And yet, Andreth, to speak with humility, I cannot conceive how else this healing could be achieved. Since Eru will surely not suffer Melkor to turn the world to his own will and to triumph in the end. Yet there is no power conceivable greater than Melkor save Eru only. Therefore Eru, if He will not relinquish His work to Melkor, who must else proceed to mastery, then Eru must come in to conquer him.... And if any remedy for [Melkor's multiplying evil] is to be found, ere all is ended, any new light to oppose the shadow, or any medicine for the wounds: then it must, I deem, come from without."
"Then, lord," said Andreth, and she looked up in wonder, "you believe in this Hope?"
"Ask me not yet," he answered. "For it is still to me but strange news that comes from afar. No such hope was ever spoken to the Quendi. To you [Men] only it was sent. And yet through you we may hear it and lift up our hearts."
The proto-evangelion (earliest preparation for the gospel) of Middle-earth is found within the "Old Hope" of Men: that Eru the One, Ilúvatar, will Himself enter into Arda to conquer Melkor the Dark Enemy of the World, remake and heal Arda, and rescue His children to be His own again. In this plan of healing Men will play a crucial role as agents of Eru. Finrod is amazed by the possibility.
Andreth is incredulous. It seems to her "all wisdom is against it," that the "Old Hope" is mere foolishness. How could it possibly be? But the ways of Eru are mysterious, beyond the understanding of Men. By foolishness Eru confounds the wise, by weakness He confounds the strong. Is it not through simple Hobbits venturing straight into Mordor that the One Ring will be destroyed in the Third Age?
....Perhaps Eru might even --dare we hope? is it too fantastic?-- enter into Arda as a Man Himself!