Gandalf vs. Sauron

[Voralphion]

I think I have read somewhere that in the beginning Sauron and Olorin were equal in innate power. Gandalf however was severely restricted in his use of that power, as he was not allowed to use his power openly and couldn't contest Sauron directly using it, (Sauron had no such restrictions). Also, much of his power was lost to him by the process of becoming incarnate when he became an Istari.
As stated earlier, Olorin was by no means the most powerful maia, some more powerful than him that come mind are; Eomwe, Ilmare, Melian, Osse and probably Arien.

[Elfstone]

There's a pretty good side debate in this thread about Gandalf vs Sauron - http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthr...3&page=1&pp=40

[Dûrbelethwen]

I have just found the answer to my own question in "Unfinished Tales". In the section about the Istari it says this : "
it was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force or fear."

[Elfstone]

How does that answer your question? Being forbidden to match power with power means only that Gandalf wasn't allowed to take on Sauron directly. It's doesn't answer the question of whether or not he was up to the task.

[Gothbogg the Ripper]

I'm not sure whether or not Gandalf would be a match for Sauron, If Sauron had the Ring then it would certainly improve his chances by at least 50%, but maybe Gandalf could pull it off but I personally think it's unlikely.

[obloquy]

I'm not sure whether or not Gandalf would be a match for Sauron, If Sauron had the Ring then it would certainly improve his chances by at least 50%, but maybe Gandalf could pull it off but I personally think it's unlikely.

Based on what? Do some research, cite some sources. Look at the arguments I linked to above and give responses to the points made therein, instead of arbitrary, meaningless, ignorant, regurgitated speculation.

[mark12_30]

Obloquy, you have provided a wealth of information in those links. Thank you.

My apologies: for coming late to this debate, but also (and especially) for not providing numeric references for these letter quotes, below. I remembered the gist of the quotes and searched online for them, so they are not as complete as I would like. I hope to return to the letter during some spare time and glean for further information; perhaps another member of this thread will beat me to it. For those who do not have a copy of Letters, I cannot recommend the book highly enough. But then, I am known for my Letters-bias.

These quotes are simply the first thought that came to my mind pondering the question, and I hope they provide further impetus for the discussion.

(J.R.R. Tolkien in a letter to Mrs. Eileen Elgar - September 1963):

"Gandalf as Ring-Lord would have been far worse than Sauron. He would have remained 'righteous', but self-righteous. He would have continued to rule and order things for 'good' and the benefit of his subjects according to his wisdom (which was and would have remained great)."

J.R.R. Tolkien in a letter to Mrs. Eileen Elgar - September 1963

"Of the others only Gandalf might be expected to master [Sauron]--being an emissary of the Powers and a creature of the same order, an immortal spirit taking a visible physical form."