The Overture of Creation

Ainulindalë by ralphdamianiart.com https://artstn.co/pp/KelZX

“There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them, propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he was glad. But for a long while they sang only each alone, or but few together, while the rest hearkened; for each comprehended only that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he came, and in the understanding of their brethren they grew but slowly. Yet ever as they listened they came to deeper understanding, and increased in unison and harmony.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1992.

I decided it was time to start reading the Silmarillion again, so I cracked open my beautiful hardbound copy of The Silmarillion Illustrated By the Author edition that I received for Christmas a couple of years back. The opening, titled the Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur is always so beautiful and intriguing. The following are some of my observations. 

First, anyone familiar with the Bible would have a difficult time not seeing Silmalarities...I mean similarities with the book of Genesis, an account of how God created the heavens and the earth. Tolkien named the Creator—Eru, the One. On earth, he is called Ilúvatar by the Elves, a word that means “All-Father” or “Father of All” in Quenya.

So, how are they similar? Well, here are a few of my unpolished ramblings. Feel free to post a few of your own.

It is traditionally accepted that Genesis was written in ancient Hebrew by Moses, somewhere between the 15th and 13th century B.C. The very first verse is translated, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Moses uses the word אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) for God. Interestingly, it is the plural form of El, which means God or mighty one. Of course, this does not mean Moses meant “Gods” or “Mighty Ones.” Rather, his grammatical use of the plural form with singular meaning was meant to intensify and emphasize the majesty and supreme power of God as Creator. Moses absolutely believed there was only One True God. He wrote in Deuteronomy 6:4 (English Standard Version—ESV): “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” By using Elohim, he was pluralizing God's majesty, if you will.

So, both The Silmarillion and the Bible begin with a Creator who is powerful and singular (One). 

Eru makes the Ainur from his thought, thinking them into existence, while Elohim makes the angels by his command. Psalm 148:2, 5 (ESV), “Praise him, all his angels... Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.”

Both the biblical account of creation and Tolkien's story tell about a Creator who places his will and purpose into his creation. For the Ainur, we see a calling for them to understand who they are and their place among other created beings. Ultimately, they were called to be in harmony with Eru and with the other Ainur. They were to sing the same music. Some—the Valar—were even to become sub-creators, creating and embellishing on what already exists.

The angels of the Bible have one calling: to praise their Creator and serve him as messengers to mankind.

Tolkien's story is not an allegory of the Bible, but it sings the same music by starting off with ‘the One’ Creator and the words ‘Holy Ones’ for his Ainur, or angels. And this is just the beginning...