An Interactive Study Guide on the Letters of Saint Paul

Margaret Rash reviews St. Paul on the Power of the Cross, an engaging and thoughtful study guide on the letters of Saint Paul. 

St. Paul on the Power of the Cross 

By Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. 

Publisher: Sophia Institute Press

The letters of Saint Paul provide us with sound theology, insight into the early Church, inspiration, encouragement, and words of hope. One could spend years studying all of the various aspects of his life and writings.   

In St. Paul on the Power of the Cross by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., Pacwa beautifully guides his readers through each of Saint Paul's letters under the overarching theme of Saint Paul's theology of the power and wisdom of the Cross. He does this through historical context, meditations, Scripture passages, thought-provoking discussion questions, and writing exercises. 

Interactive Design 

This book can be used as a study guide or devotional, whether alone or with a group in the context of a focused Bible study or book club.  

In the beginning pages of the book, Pacwa provides a suggested process for how to best use it as a group study guide, and he also provides a key to symbols used throughout the text.   

The symbols indicate to the reader when there is relevant historical information or some other note with important context, as well as when the reader should stop and read certain passages from their Bible, quotations, and when a writing exercise is provided. 

Historical Context and Relevance for Today 

Pacwa does a masterful job providing the reader with plenty of historical information surrounding Saint Paul's letters. This helps the reader to really understand to whom Saint Paul was writing and how they would have received his words at the time.  

I found the callout information boxes to be particularly helpful and interesting.  

At the same time, he provides thoughtful insights that are useful in our own lives today. His discussion questions are definitely worth careful consideration, whether reading alone or with a group.  

Here, our weakness includes the inability to know how to pray or even what to pray for. The common translation of 8:26 is “sighs,” but the verbal root is translated as “groans.” Sometimes people are so deeply caught in pain and suffering that all they can do at certain points of life is “groan” or “sigh.” Paul's point is that the Holy Spirit who dwells within each of us is no further away from these painful groans than He was from the cries of pain of Jesus Christ on the Cross. (99-100) 

Read it alone or with a group? 

At the outset of the study guide, Pacwa indicates that this guide can be fruitful regardless of use in a group or alone. Personally, I read it alone, but I do want to go through it again with a group.  

For a group setting, you could use it in a Bible study group or book club in which you are already a member, or you can get a group of friends or family members together. You could also contact your local parish and ask about the steps to advertise starting a group at your parish.  

Another use for this book, in my opinion, is as a religion course in your homeschool. My children are still too young for this material, but I plan to hold onto the book with my homeschool materials for a future high school religion course.  

I highly recommend this study guide for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the letters of Saint Paul and his spirituality regarding the wisdom, healing, and power of the Cross of Jesus Christ. 

Ask for St. Paul on the Power of the Cross by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Sophia Institute Press or Amazon. 

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Copyright 2025 Margaret Rash
Images: (top) detail from cover
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