Eru, a Autoridade, devolveu Gandalf com mais poder, conhecimento e sabedoria.
Antes do retorno de Gandalf, ele não teria sido capaz de resgatar Theoden quebrando o feitiço de Saruman, inspirando e liderando os Rohirrim. Nem ele teria sido capaz de enfrentar Saruman, como originalmente Saruman tinha sido o líder dos Istari e, portanto, mais poderoso do que Gandalf.He was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or governors; but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure. 'Naked I was sent back – for a brief time, until my task is done'. Sent back by whom, and whence? Not by the 'gods' whose business is only with this embodied world and its time; for he passed 'out of thought and time'.
A prisão de Gandalf do Rei Bruxo de Minas Tirith é outro exemplo. Anteriormente, ele simplesmente ajudou a inundação de Elrond em manter os Nazgull de Rivendell. Após seu retorno, ele foi capaz de, sozinho, impedir o Rei Bruxo.So Gandalf sacrificed himself, was accepted, and enhanced, and returned. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.' Of course, he remains similar in personality and idiosyncrasy, but both his wisdom and power are much greater. When he speaks he commands attention; the old Gandalf could not have dealt so with Theoden, nor with Saruman. He is still under the obligation of concealing his power and of teaching rather than forcing or dominating wills, but where the physical powers of the Enemy are too great for the good will of the opposers to be effective he can act in emergency as an 'angel'
He alone is left to forbid the entrance of the Lord of Nazgûl to Minas Tirith, when the City has been overthrown and its Gates destroyed
Trechos da Carta 156 .