This paper discusses the functions of `as well as` in comparison with `and`. Our analysis of the KJV and the NIV of the Bible shows that `as well as` has been grammaticalized into a new coordinator, being in functional competition with the old coordinator `and`. This paper reveals that `as well as` has similar but different characteristics from `and`. Firstly, the distribution of the grammatical categories of the elements `as well as` coordinates are more limited--i.e. mostly NP and PP--than `and`. Secondly, `as well as` tends to coordinate syntactically more complex and less integrated elements than `and`. Thirdly, `as well as` tends to coordinate semantically more heterogeneous elements than `and`, which reflects iconic tendencies.