Tim Allen Studying the Apostle Paul’s Teachings Amid Spiritual Journey
Conservative actor and comedian Tim Allen revealed on an episode of Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast that he’s been studying the Apostle Paul’s teachings. Allen also defended the historicity of King David and Jesus Christ.
“I’m reading [Paul] … who was a zealot Jew who prosecuted Christians,” Allen shared with Maher.
“Paul said something very intuitive that I’m still studying, because he says law was basically invented to develop sin,” he explained. “Without law, you don’t know what sinful is. So, law was basically just to give you guardrails of what the world is.”
Allen is likely referring to Romans 5:20 and 7:5. The first passage says, “Now the law came in to increase the trespass,” while the second refers to “our sinful passions” which are “aroused by the law” (ESV).
Allen said he appreciates Paul’s insight, because he had been underwhelmed after studying philosophy in recent years.
“What you’re going to find is the cycle of ignorance with philosophy,” he said, “and that’s where I’ve been in the last 20 years. Philosophy gets run in these circles. It can’t explain anything, really.”
The actor, well-known for his leading roles as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor in Home Improvement, Mike Baxter in Last Man Standing and Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story series, has chronicled his journey reading through Scripture in recent years.
“Never took the time in all my years to ever read and really read the Bible,” Allen wrote in a post in August 2024, adding, “Currently almost through the Jerusalem Bible Old Testament and almost done with the Prophets. … So far amazing and not at all what I was expecting.”
“This week I am now in the book of the Gospel of Paul,” Allen wrote in an update on June 2, 2025. “A Roman Jew familiar with Plato, Stoicism, and other Greek schools of thought. I am amazed in seven pages!”
Later, Allen stated he was reading Paul’s letter to the Romans.
In his discussion with Maher, Allen also paraphrased the story of David and Goliath, recorded in 1 Samuel 17, which Allen said he thought was “just a story” until he took a guided tour of Jerusalem.
“[Then] I’m in Jerusalem. David was the King. It did happen. Some version of that,” Allen said, recounting what he learned from the tour guide.
He also shared that the tour guide nonchalantly referenced Jesus as a historical figure.
“Out of nowhere [the tour guide said], ‘And that’s where Jesus walked through here,’ and then you’re going, it never occurred to me that the dude actually existed,” Allen said.
“Well, He may not have,” Maher countered.
“Not according to this guy,” Allen replied.
Allen’s conversation with Maher touched on several truths that it’s important for Christians to know and affirm. His summary of the Apostle Paul’s teaching on the moral law is essentially correct.
As Christians, we know that no one can be saved by the law, since all have violated the law. Indeed, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).
In Romans 7:8, the Apostle Paul writes,
We are saved – not through the law – but by the grace extended to us through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us on the cross.
Furthermore, Allen’s defense of Jesus Christ’s historicity is imperative. Maher’s assertion that Christ may never have existed is far outside the bounds of modern, Christian and even secular scholarship.
According to Dr. Craig Blomberg, president of the Evangelical Theological Society, even if we rely only on extrabiblical sources, we can know:
Even Professor Bart Ehrman, a textual critic well known for his journey from evangelicalism to agnosticism, admits, “Whether we like it or not, Jesus certainly existed.”
It’s important for Christians to be informed about the faith they profess, and to be able to give good reasons for their belief in Christ (1 Peter 3:15, ESV).
Otherwise, Christians can be easily led into error and doubt when someone like Maher asserts – contrary to the evidence – that Christ may not have existed.
Real faith is not believing something in the absence of evidence; it’s believing something because there is good evidence to do so. Thankfully, as Christians, we profess a faith that is eminently rational and founded upon historical events – the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Please continue to pray for Allen, and for all those searching for spiritual truth, that they may come to faith in Christ who is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6, ESV).
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How Do We Know The Bible Is True?
Is the Bible True? 5 Reasons Why The Answer is Yes
Where to Start Reading The Bible
How to Read the Bible – as a Family
Investigating the Eyewitness Accounts of Jesus Christ
The Proof You Need to Believe in Jesus Christ
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