How old is God?

How Old Is God?
A Biblical and Theological Response from a Baptist Perspective

The question, “How old is God?” is one that reflects a human way of thinking. It stems from our limited understanding, shaped by time, seasons, and lifespans. In human terms, age represents the number of years that have passed since someone’s birth. We count time beginning with an origin—our birthdays mark our entrance into the world, and from that point, we start aging. For example, we say a child is one week old, two months old, or four years old, because there is a clear starting point to their existence.

But when we speak of God, we are not speaking of a created being who had a starting point in time. God has no beginning and no end. Time itself is part of His creation, and He exists beyond it. Therefore, God does not have an age, because He was never born, never began to exist, and will never cease to be. He is eternal and timeless.

1. God Created Time and Is Not Bound by It

God is not subject to the limitations of time. He created time for humanity, to govern our lives and to measure days, years, and seasons.

Genesis chapter 1, verse 14 says,
"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.'"

Psalm one hundred four, verse nineteen echoes this:
"He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down."

These verses show that time is a function of the created order, made by God to serve mankind. But God is not part of creation—He is the Creator.

2. God Is the Beginning and the End

In both Old and New Testaments, God describes Himself as the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. This means that He transcends time and is present at all points of history simultaneously. This truth is repeated throughout Scripture.

Revelation chapter 1, verse 8 says,
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation chapter 1, verse 11 also says,
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last."

Revelation chapter 22, verse 13 says,
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

In Greek, Alpha is the first letter of the alphabet, and Omega is the last. This title means that God is sovereign over all of history, from its beginning to its consummation. He always has been and always will be.

In the Old Testament, Isaiah chapter 44, verse 6 declares,
"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.'"

3. God’s Name Reveals His Eternal Nature

When God revealed Himself to Moses, He used a profound name that expresses His timeless existence.

Exodus chapter 3, verse 14 says,
"And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you."'"

The Hebrew phrase "I AM WHO I AM" emphasizes self-existence and eternal presence. It reveals that God depends on no one, is unchanging, and exists outside of time. This is where we get the name YAHWEH, the covenant name of God in the Old Testament. He is not one who became; He simply is.

4. God Is Timeless, Eternal, and Unchanging

We must remember that God is spirit (John chapter 4, verse 24), and as such, He is not composed of matter or subject to physical limitations like time, space, or decay. He is immutable—unchanging in His being, attributes, purpose, and promises.

Genesis chapter 21, verse 33 calls God eternal:
"Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God."

God is called El Olam, the everlasting God—He exists forever, uncreated and without end.

5. Jesus Is the Eternal God Incarnate

When Jesus came into the world, He took on a human nature, but He Himself existed long before His earthly birth. The incarnation does not mark the beginning of Jesus; rather, it marks the point at which the eternal Son of God took on flesh.

John chapter 1, verses 1 through 3 says,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

Colossians chapter 1, verse 16 confirms,
"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him."

And John chapter 8, verse 58, Jesus said,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Jesus used the divine name "I AM" to show that He is the same eternal God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush.

Conclusion: God Has No Age

Asking “How old is God?” is what philosophers call a category mistake. It’s like asking “What does blue taste like?” or “How many decibels is the number five?” These are nonsensical because they assume a category that doesn’t apply. God is not a creature—He is the Creator. Age applies to things that have a beginning, and God has no beginning.

John chapter 1, verse 3 states:
"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

If God had an age, He would have a starting point. That would imply there was once a time when God did not exist. But that is not only theologically impossible—it would also mean the universe came into being without a Creator, which contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture.

Because God always has been, we can trust that He always will be. His eternality is not just a mystery—it is a comfort. He is the unchanging Rock in a changing world. And those who put their trust in Him have the assurance that their future is secure.

Psalm chapter 9, verse 10 says,
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5 says,
"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

Final Thought:
We may not be able to comprehend the timelessness of God fully, but we can worship Him for it. He is our eternal refuge, and in Christ, we are secure forever.