Was Gandalf Just A 5th Level Magic User?

This article from Dragon Magazine, back in 1977, is likely very familiar to many of you (feel free to yawn - this item isn't for you!) However, there are many newer fans of D&D who don't even remember Dragon Magazine, let alone issues from nearly 40 years ago. In the article, Bill Seligman posits that Gandalf was merely a 5th level magic-user. Given Cubicle 7's recent announcement about an official Middle Earth setting for D&D, it seems like a nostalgia piece worth revisiting.

Some folks I hear discussing this topic these days take the position that Gandalf is actually a paladin. Certainly "wizards" in Tolkien's works aren't the same magic-missile-throwing folks as in regular D&D; in fact there are only five wizards in the whole of Middle Earth - and at least one of them (the 7th Doctor) is very clearly a druid.

What do you think? Is Gandalf a 5th level magic-user? What about in 5th Edition, given the upcoming Middle Earth release? I'm sure Cubicle 7 will tells for certain this summer, but until then...

 

[BookBarbarian]

A 'wizard' in Tolkien was a walking/talking plot device and source of exposition, not a character, let alone a class.

Gandalf was a Plot Armored, Loot-Ninjaing, Kill-stealing DMPC.

 

[TBeholder]

I just want to say is, Gandalf is NOT a wizard, he is clearly something else...
Personal innate power...
Never seen handling dusty tomes...
Doesn't have a spell for every problem...
Gets creative with the limited effects he can use...
Actually a magical creature bound to flesh...
Serves a greater deity...
Domain over matter limited to that deity portfolio...

Whether he cannot do something, or have a reason not to is never clear, he's too much of a sneak.
But looking to the root of the issue, Gandalf is a Maiar.
In terms significantly later, but closer to the article than to this day D&D this would probably fall under "Quasipower". Not all the way godlike, but things like being thrown into a chasm only moderately inconvenience him.