He didn’t write letters that made it into the New Testament, plant famous churches or perform recorded miracles. He is only mentioned once. But one day Paul asked him to take care of some things for him.
Timothy is planning to visit Paul in prison.
“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4 v 13)
Carpus, what’s your role in the grand scheme of things?
“I’m the keeper of the winter coat.”
In many ways, Carpus embodies the vast majority of Christian service throughout history. Faithful, practical, often unnoticed, but absolutely essential to the work of God’s kingdom. His brief mention reminds us that behind every great ministry are people like Carpus: reliable, trustworthy, and willing to help with whatever needs doing, even if it’s just holding onto someone’s winter coat and a few books.
At the end of his life, all Paul had left, was a cloak and a few books. Even then he had left them with a friend, perhaps because he was arrested quickly before imprisonment.
Parchments were expensive, precious items, likely containing portions of Scripture or important theological works.
At the end of his life, with his desire for these parchments and his books, we see the heart of a lifelong learner, a man whose passion for knowledge and truth never dimmed, even in the shadow of execution.
We all need friends to hold our coats.
We all need friends who can carry our books.
We all need friends to carry out the most mundane acts of service so that we can survive our difficulty and continue to grow in God.
Missions Paul 