The question of how old God is has intrigued theologians, scholars, and laypeople alike for centuries. While time is a fundamental part of human existence, the Bible presents a concept of God that exists far beyond the constraints of time.
Unlike humans and all other created beings, God is not bound by age or time. His age, in the traditional sense, is a concept that doesn’t apply because He exists eternally—without beginning or end. This article takes a deep dive into what the Bible says about God’s eternal nature, His existence before and beyond time, and what it means for believers today.
How Old Is God According to the Bible?
The Bible gives us a profound and clear understanding that God is eternal and does not experience age in the same way humans do. The idea that God is eternal is echoed throughout scripture, making it clear that He exists beyond time and space. In Psalm 90:2, it says,
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
This verse emphasizes that God has always been and will always be. He was present before time began and will continue to exist long after the present creation fades away. The concept of God being eternal is reinforced by various other biblical passages that stress that God’s nature transcends time. God is the Creator of time itself, meaning He exists outside of it. Time began with creation, but God’s existence has no beginning or end.
Direct Biblical Statements About God’s Age
Before the world and universe were created, God already existed. The Bible is quite explicit about this fact. For example, in the book of Genesis, the very first verse states,
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
This marks the starting point of the universe and time as we know it. However, this verse does not mark the beginning of God. He existed long before this moment. Psalm 90:2 reinforces this idea, stating that God has existed from everlasting to everlasting, implying that He has no start and no end. Proverbs 8:22-23 reveals wisdom speaking about God’s existence
- “before His works of old”
before creation itself. The Bible also speaks of God’s eternal nature in various other places, such as in John 17:5, where Jesus says,
“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
This further affirms that God’s existence preceded the creation of the world.
Understanding Time in the Bible
In the Bible, time is an essential theme in understanding God’s role as the Creator. God’s relationship to time is unique—He is not confined to it in the way that humans are. Unlike humans, who experience the flow of time, God’s existence is timeless. In 2 Peter 3:8, it says,
“With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
This statement highlights God’s ability to exist beyond human limitations of time. For us, a thousand years is an incomprehensibly long time, but to God, that same period is equivalent to a single day.
Psalm 102:24-27 speaks about God’s timeless nature, saying that while the created world will pass away, “you will remain”. God’s eternity is something that is unfathomable to human understanding because He is not limited by the passage of time.
Since God created time itself in Genesis 1, He is not bound by it. Genesis 1:14 speaks about God creating celestial time markers:
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.”
This passage indicates that time, as we understand it—marked by days, nights, and seasons—was created by God. Time only came into existence through God’s will and action, and as such, He stands apart from it.
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God’s Creation of Time
God’s creation of time is one of the most significant and profound aspects of His role as Creator. In Genesis 1:1, when it says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” it marks the beginning of the universe but does not indicate the beginning of God.
The creation of the world involved the creation of time itself—the establishment of days, nights, and seasons. God set these in motion, but as their Creator, He stands outside of them. The timelessness of God is made evident in the fact that He created the very framework that governs time.
In Genesis 1:14, we see God establishing celestial time markers such as the sun, moon, and stars, which help us measure time through days, months, and years. These markers do not apply to God in the same way—they are for us, the created beings, to understand the passage of time. God does not need these markers; He exists independently of them.
Biblical Timeline and God’s Existence
The Bible presents a clear timeline of God’s involvement in the world, but this timeline does not apply to God’s own existence. God’s existence is beyond this timeline. In the beginning, God created the world, and the events of the Bible unfold over time. However, God’s own existence has no beginning or end. Psalm 93:2 states,
“Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.”
This declaration highlights the eternal nature of God and how His existence is not subject to the timeline of creation.
The Creation Week in Genesis 1:1-5 marks the beginning of time as we know it. During this week, God separates light from darkness, creating day and night, establishing the first time markers. But even in this moment, God was not created;
He is eternal and existed before time began. The Bible consistently presents God as present throughout biblical events, always unchanging, always eternal, regardless of how time progresses for humans.
God’s Self-Revelation About His Age
In Exodus 3:14, God reveals His name to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.” This statement speaks volumes about God’s eternal nature. The Hebrew name YHWH (often translated as Yahweh) means “I AM” and reflects God’s self-existent nature.
He is not a God who once came into being or who will cease to exist. Rather, He simply is. His existence does not depend on time or space. God exists independently of creation, and His I AM statement reflects His eternal, unchanging nature.
Another title used for God in the Bible is El Olam, meaning “The Everlasting God.” Found in Genesis 21:33, this name emphasizes God’s eternal existence. Similarly, the term Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9 speaks of God’s pre-time authority and existence.
This title highlights God’s authority that existed before time began, indicating that He reigns not just over the present, but over all of eternity.
Common Questions About God’s Age
Does God Have a Beginning?
The Bible consistently affirms that God has no beginning. Psalm 93:2 declares that God is “from everlasting”, and in Isaiah 43:13, God says, “From eternity I am He.” There is no moment in time when God began to exist.
Unlike human beings, whose lives begin with birth, God’s existence is eternal and without origin. His identity as the Creator means He was not created, and thus, He has no starting point.
Can We Calculate God’s Age?
Given that God exists outside the boundaries of time, it is impossible to calculate His age. Time, as we experience it, was created by God (Genesis 1), and therefore, He is not subject to the passage of time. In Revelation 1:8, God refers to Himself as the “Alpha and the Omega,” the beginning and the end. This underscores the fact that God is eternal, existing beyond the constraints of time.
FAQs
How Old Is God According to the Bible?
The Bible makes it clear that God does not have an age in the way humans do. He is eternal, meaning He has no beginning and no end. In Psalm 90:2, it says,
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
This verse indicates that God has always existed and will always exist. He is outside the constraints of time, having no specific starting point or age.
How Old Would God Be Today?
Since God is eternal and exists outside of time, the concept of “today” doesn’t apply to Him in the same way it does to us. God does not age like humans or any other created being. As the Creator of time (Genesis 1:1), He exists beyond the passage of time.
Therefore, God’s “age” cannot be measured in human terms. The Bible describes God as the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8), meaning He is both the beginning and the end, without any specific time frame in which He started or will end.
How Old Is the Oldest God?
The Bible does not refer to multiple gods, but to one eternal God who has existed before all things. When people refer to “the oldest God,” they may be thinking of other deities or interpretations from different belief systems, but according to the Bible, God has no age. He is the only eternal being. Psalm 93:2 says,
“Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.”
This means that God has always been and will always be.
How Long Has God Existed?
God has existed eternally, meaning He has no beginning or end. The Bible describes Him as being from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). God existed before the creation of the world, as shown in Genesis 1:1,
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
This suggests that God was already present before time and creation began. His existence is not bound by time, and He is immortal, invisible, and unchangeable (1 Timothy 1:17, Hebrews 7:3). Therefore, there is no definitive “how long” because God transcends time itself.
Conclusion
The Bible offers a clear and consistent picture of God’s eternal existence. He is the Creator of time, but He is not bound by it. God has no beginning and no end. His existence transcends time, and He is ever-present, unaffected by the passage of days, months, or years. From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, the Bible affirms that God is timeless and eternal. He is not measured by age as we understand it, for He exists in an eternal present.
In conclusion, the Bible tells us that God is not confined to the same limitations that govern human life. God’s age cannot be calculated, because He is eternal, existing both before time and beyond it. This understanding of God’s timeless nature invites us to marvel at the mystery and majesty of the Creator, who reigns over all creation, in eternity past, present, and future.
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