Tim Allen has completed a remarkable spiritual journey that spanned over a year, announcing recently that he finished reading the entire Bible from cover to cover.
The 71-year-old actor revealed on social media that his biblical exploration took 13 months to complete.
Allen emphasized that he read every single word and page without skipping any sections.
“Humbled, enlightened and amazed at what I read and what I learned,” Allen wrote. He added that he plans to rest and reflect on his readings before beginning the process again.
The comedian’s deep dive into scripture represents a significant shift for someone who spent decades questioning his faith. Allen’s relationship with God became complicated at age 11 when tragedy struck his family.
A drunk driver killed Allen’s father in a devastating car accident. The actor was not in the vehicle at the time, but his mother and brothers were involved in the crash.
Allen’s father died in his mother’s lap during the incident. His two brothers were thrown around inside the car, and multiple children sustained injuries.
After the accident, young Tim Allen returned home from a friend’s house sensing something terrible had occurred. He immediately began praying and attempting to negotiate with God.
“I said, ‘I will eat vegetables.’ Whatever as a kid. ‘Just make — whatever’s going on — this is terrible. I will do my homework,’ or whatever,” Allen explained during an appearance on Mike Rowe’s podcast last fall.
When Allen arrived home, police were present along with his uncle. The uncle instructed the boy to suppress his emotions and support his mother instead of crying.
Well-meaning adults told Allen his father was “in a better place.” The young boy’s response revealed his confusion about the situation.
“My first reaction was, ‘Then why are we in this s—hole? Why don’t we just start there?’ And it never got answered,” Allen recalled.
The unanswered questions created lasting pain that affected Allen’s faith for many years. He admitted that for a long time, he simply did not care about spiritual matters.
A shop teacher eventually provided guidance that helped Allen move forward. The teacher advised him to stop asking unanswerable questions and focus on what he could control.
Allen’s spiritual struggles continued into adulthood. In 2011, he described his relationship with God as “curious” and admitted he wondered if harder prayer might have saved his father.
The actor also experienced a major turning point when he was arrested for selling cocaine in his twenties. During his time in jail, he felt suicidal until his comedic instincts helped save his life.
Last September, Allen announced he was ready to forgive the drunk driver who killed his father. He was inspired by Erika Kirk, who publicly forgave the man accused of killing her husband.
“I have struggled for over 60 years to forgive the man who killed my Dad. I will say those words now as I type: ‘I forgive the man who killed my father.’ Peace be with you all,” Allen wrote on social media.
Allen began his intensive Bible study in August 2023, starting with the Jerusalem Bible Old Testament. He found the experience “amazing and not at all what I was expecting.”
Throughout his year-long journey, Allen provided regular updates on social media. By October 2024, he had finished Ezekiel and moved on to Daniel.
In January 2024, Allen completed the entire Old Testament. He described the experience as “humbling” and “overwhelming,” calling the scripture a treasure.
Fox News reported that by June, Allen was reading the Gospel of Paul. He expressed amazement at Paul’s background as a Roman Jew familiar with Greek philosophy and Stoicism.
During a recent podcast appearance with Bill Maher, Allen discussed his study of Paul’s teachings about law and sin. He revealed this philosophical exploration has occupied much of his attention over the past two decades.
