Bag End, Hobbiton. April 13, Shire Year, 1418. – Gandalf continues Frodo’s education concerning the One Ring, Gollum, and various other interconnected people, places, and events. The young hobbit is quite repulsed by Gandalf’s suggestion that Gollum might be a distant relative or ancestor of modern hobbits, although he reluctantly admits of some possibility.

‘Yes,’ said Frodo. ‘Though other folks besides hobbits ask riddles, and of much the same sort. And hobbits don’t cheat. Gollum meant to cheat all the time. He was just trying to put poor Bilbo off his guard. And I daresay it amused his wickedness to start a game which might end in providing him with an easy victim, but if he lost would not hurt him.’

“‘Only too true, I fear,’ said Gandalf. ‘But there was something else in it, I think, which you don’t see yet. Even Gollum was not wholly ruined . . . There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own, and light came through it, as through a chink in the dark: light out of the past . . .

“‘But that, of course, would only make the evil part of him angrier in the end – unless it could be conquered. Unless it could be cured.’ Gandalf sighed. “Alas! there is little hope of that for him. Yet not no hope . . . ‘”
- LOTR, p. 55

Before discussing the good news of Gollum’s condition, I will turn briefly to a theological term that needs clarification. It is important always to keep in mind the critical distinction between depravity and ruin. While the latter encompasses the former, the former is not equivalent to the latter.

Depravity, understood biblically, means that mankind, individually and corporately, is unable to do anything to gain favor with God or to achieve righteousness independently. (If you would like more information, go to this page: Theologians on Depravity.)

This is seen to be the case with Gollum, who is not totally evil in the same fashion as Morgoth or Sauron, but who is unable to do anything to save himself from his desperate situation. He is depraved but not completely ruined or beyond hope. Like Saruman (who is also given an opportunity to repent and “save himself,” i.e., be saved), Gollum needs for someone or Someone to save him from himself. Gandalf extends such an offer to Saruman and Frodo will later repeatedly offer opportunities for Gollum to change his mind.

Though ultimately unsuccessful with either Gollum or Saruman, it is nevertheless tremendously good news to know that Gollum – who stands in the place of fallen mankind at this point – is not “wholly ruined”: there may be “little hope” for him but “not no hope.”

The hope Gandalf had for Gollum is a real and living hope for every individual: salvation is availabe to all who repent and call upon the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Regardless of how deep or damaging past sins may have been, no one is ever rendered without hope in this lifetime. The saving arm of a gracious God is just a whispered prayer away, for “whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom 10:13; cf Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21).



Namárië.