Higher order: Gandalf or Balrog(s)

[pandora]

The fight between Gandalf and Durin's Bane is only a valid measurement if you bear that in mind.

That's correct. The problem is that the question is a bit vauge: what is meant by "order". Both were Maia so in that sense equal; but within that obviously balrogs are lower as they have fallen to evil. So the question seems to boil down to who is stronger; ultimately Gandalf won but the thread led into the question of whether he won because the ring of fire helped overcome some of the limitations of his physical body, which I think is the case.

The question of which one was stronger if unencumbered by their bodies is moot; so we are reduced to discussing what happened "on the day" and that seems to indicate that Gandalf sans-ring would have failed. Which makes a better story too.