[Bill Ferny]

I agree with Wizard about the reincarnation of Gandalf the White being both more powerful and wiser than the former incarnation. Afterall, its hard to contest Tolkien's own words. However, if I understand your last paragraph correctly, I don't think I agree that Saruman was ever greater or more powerful than Gandalf.

From the first Gandalf is recognized as the greatest, though not of course by all. Cirdan gives the Red Ring to Gandalf, not the other Istari before him, for he "saw further and deeper than any other in Middle-earth." I think Gandalf's superiority over Saruman resides in Olorin's admittance that he was weak and that he feared Sauron. Manwe's reply was "all the more reason." It was humility, which apparently is central to the nature of the Istari who were embodied as men (men who are characterized by the elves as the Engwar or "sickly"), that made Gandalf greater, and ironically, more powerful than Saruman. Tolkien's message, perhaps, is that humility is always more potent than pride.

Along with the theme of humility, it becomes obvious why the Istari would come as men, not elves. The theme of humility also explains why Gandalf was sent back as a man, and did not do as Sauron did, and reforge for himself another form.

Gandalf remained the servant of Eru, but a humble servant: the servant of the servants of Eru. Not so much unlike Tolkien would have experienced with the slogan of his church's pope, who proclaims to be the servant of the servants of God.