In the New Testament we often see the writers and the speakers using words and phrases in specific ways. Often times it requires a cultural and social understanding of the people and manners of that day in which these words were written in order to understand the intended meaning. This is true with many specific and very interesting words. I would like to look at two words used together several times in the New Testament. The term, “But Rather”; these two words are used together in the gospels and the epistles and are used to elevate a superior option or choice over an inferior one. These are not all of the occasions these two words are used in scripture but I believe this sampling is enough to establish the intent of the authors when they do use these words.
The Greek word for “Rather” is “mállon” (Strongs 3123)-Used 81 times in the Greek New Testament; it is a comparative form of malla (“very”) meaning “rather, more than,” i.e. more than what it is compared to. (“More than, better than, rather”) is a comparative adverb that refers to what is better as compared to what is merely “good.” This involves prioritizing or ranking to elevate the better over the good, i.e. the higher priority (the more important) over the less-important.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: BUT RATHER fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
How much better it is to fear God than man. Here Jesus is telling us just that.
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: BUT RATHER through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more (Mallon) their fullness?” Romans 11:11-12
Here the comparison is Israel’s stumbling as the inferior option but that this stumbling is acceptable in light of the superior results of the salvation of the Gentiles, and the provoking of Israel to investigate the gospel more closely.
“Therefore let’s not judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling.” Romans 14:13
Instead of judging we are encouraged to NOT put a stumbling block in the way of our brother.
“Let him that stole steal no more: BUT RATHER let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28
Here Paul is highlighting the superiority of giving over stealing…evidence of a new heart.
“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: BUT RATHER giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5:4
Who would not rather have people around them full of thanks giving instead of filthiness, foolish talking and jesting?
“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, BUT RATHER even reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11
The superiority of reproving the works of darkness than fellowshipping with them may be axiomatic, but it must be declared.
“And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; BUT RATHER do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” 1Timothy 6:2
Doing service to a brother instead of despising them is a comparison that Paul needed to elevate here.
I think one of the most powerful uses of this phrase by Paul is used to highlight the supremacy of preaching. In our day many scoff at the foolishness of preaching. Many say, why should I sit for an hour or more to hear some preacher sermonize and moralize. We in our modern day seem to think that we have outgrown the practicality and application of old fashioned preaching. We want to replace preaching with modern methods of communication, like video presentations, dramatic skits, musical productions and the like. Many churches in our day have discarded preaching entirely for these alternative communicative devices. But what does the scripture tell us about preaching?
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” 1 Corinthians 2:4
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:4
“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)” Acts 10:36
“Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.” Acts 15:35
“Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:31
Paul seemed to put a very high value on preaching, both as the ordained method of God and because of the spirit induced results that came of it. As you can see in the above selection of verses, it was highly valued by those in the book of Acts. Even Jesus told his apostles to not worry about what they were going to say in that moment…just that they were to be ready to speak, and the Holy Spirit would empower and inform their speech.
“But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.” Matthew 10:19
“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” Mark 13:11
Wow!! What a powerful gospel tool. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to speak in that hour that you need them. This is not to diminish the need for the man of God to prepare as he enters the holy lectern, not at all. But it is to encourage that man that what he has to say is of little importance compared to what the Spirit is prepared to say through him. It is not preparation that should be avoided, but fleshly reliance on self.
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
The one called by God will feel that he is compelled to speak.
“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:” Acts 18:9
The one equipped in preaching need not be afraid to speak.
“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:” 1 Corinthians 2:6
The wisdom of God spoken by God’s representative, in contrast to the wisdom of the world which comes to nothing.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” 1 Cor 2:7
Since preaching has such Spirit infused power behind it, why would we opt for a lesser method of delivering God’s word? Even John the Baptist and Jesus were sold on the supremacy of preaching.
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,” Matthew 3:1
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23
Paul openly and unashamedly elevated the ministry of preaching in his own work and expected it to likewise be elevated in the churches.
“For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:” 2 Corinthians 10:14
“Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” 2 Timothy 4:17
“But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior;” Titus 1:3
So again I ask; why would we want an inferior method of delivering the message, when we see that God has elevated preaching above all other means of communicating his message through his servant to his elect?
I submit to you that there is a branch of modern Christianity that would subject preaching to a back seat to a specific method that they prefer. This is in the exercise (I believe the illegitimate exercise) of tongues at the expense of preaching. We should see what the apostle says about this elevation of tongues over preaching, and it was for that reason that I spent so much time looking at the “But Rather” statements.
Paul used this comparative phrase to elevate preaching over tongues right smack in the middle of the most intense discussion on tongues found anywhere in the scripture. Read for yourself the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 14. But let me highlight a few verses for you.
“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, BUT RATHER that ye may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
“I would that ye all spake with tongues, BUT RATHER that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” 1 Corinthians 14:5
I was told by a friend that God never elevates the gift of preaching over the gift of tongues in the scripture. Well in these two verses above, we can see that this is plainly not true. God through his inspired apostle is using that phrase that is solely intended to compare and elevate the superior over the inferior. And here in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is going out of his way to show that God intends that Preaching be elevated above the speaking in tongues as a superior means of proclaiming the gospel. Here Paul uses that comparative phrase “Mallon”-“But Rather” to highlight the supremacy of Preaching over the exercise of tongues.
Paul continues to argue that while in his day, tongues did serve a purpose, but the real “Profit” came through preaching.
“Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?” 1 Corinthians 14:6
The whole problem with the church at Corinth elevating tongues over preaching was that the believers in that church were overcome with carnality. They were emphasizing self and the flesh over the glory of God and the clear presentation of the gospel.
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:1
And with rebuke after rebuke Paul set about to correct the fleshly carnal errors of this group of believers.
“I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” 1 Corinthians 6:5
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.“ 1 Corinthians 15:34
Over and over again, Paul highlighted the need for the Corinthian believers to put aside their sin and when we come to the passage in chapter 14 it is no different. It is in the context of this continual rebuke and correction that he addresses their abuse of the gift of tongues. There is no commendation for their use of this or any of the other gifts. But there is the need of the apostle to rein in their selfish display and turn their focus back to what is the superior exercise, that of the pure preaching of the gospel.