Simple Guide to Luke, Simple Guides to the Gospels

Paul J McCarren

 “Reading these books is like studying the Gospels with a learned, literate, and lively guide.” —James Martin SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

The Gospel writers state they aim to tell the story of Jesus in a clear manner, but throughout Paul McCarren’s years in ministry, he has seen that these simple and important messages are too often missed. In his Simple Guides to the Gospels series, McCarren provides a new translation of each Gospel book, leading readers chapter by chapter through the text. Each section includes scripture and a brief, engaging commentary about how readers can relate to the material. The Simple Guides introduce readers to life in early Christianity, describe points of controversy, and show how each section fits with those that went before. The Simple Guide to Luke explains the history this gospel writer aimed to provide and how these details build toward themes of salvation and inclusivity           

“Written in a lively style with fresh translations and original insights. . . . Readers will be stimulated to think creatively about familiar texts. —John R. Donahue, Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies (Emeritus), St. Mary’s Seminary and University

“These valuable guides may be profitably used for ones’ own spiritual growth and prayer life, or in group study of the Gospels at the parish or catechetical level.” —Alan C. Mitchell, Georgetown University

“McCarren provides commentary to each gospel writer’s style, how each is engaged in the reader’s life today, and how the sections in each gospel relate to each other.” ―U.S. Catholic