People ask, “How old is God?” as if He had a birthday. But the truth is: God doesn’t have an age. He was never born. He has no beginning and no end. That’s hard to imagine—but the Bible helps us understand.
God Has No Birthday
Everything we know has a start. Trees grow from seeds. People are born. Even stars in the sky were made one day. But God is not like anything we see.
“Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.”
—Psalm 90:2 (NIV)
“Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity.”
—Psalm 93:2 (NIV)
These verses show that God always was, even before anything else existed.
What Does “Eternal” Mean?
“Eternal” means forever—no beginning, no end, no stop. That’s what God is like. He isn’t inside time like we are. He’s above it.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
—Revelation 1:8 (NIV)
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
—Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)
Let’s look at what that means:
Phrase | What It Means |
---|---|
Who is | God exists now |
Who was | God has always existed |
Who is to come | God will always exist in the future |
God is not getting older. He never started. He always is.
Does God Age?
You and I get older. Our bodies change. We grow, we tire, we wear out. But God doesn’t.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
—Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
“I the Lord do not change.”
—Malachi 3:6 (NIV)
“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth… they will perish, but You will remain… Your years have no end.”
—Psalm 102:25–27 (ESV)
God is never weak, tired, or different from who He was before. He is always the same.
Why It Matters That God Is Eternal
If God had a beginning, He’d be just like us—limited. But because He has no beginning or end, He is:
- All-powerful
- Always present
- Always faithful
- Never changing
We can trust Him because He never goes away and He never fails.
Here’s what the Bible says about who God is:
Truth About God | Scripture |
---|---|
Never created | Genesis 1:1 |
Won’t grow old | Isaiah 40:28 |
Doesn’t change | James 1:17 |
Not bound by time | 2 Peter 3:8 |
Always with us | Matthew 28:20 |
A Better Picture: A Circle That Never Ends
Want to imagine something eternal? Think about a circle. It has no starting point and no ending point. You can follow it forever and never find a break.
Now imagine a perfect circle—one that never fades, never breaks, and never changes. That’s a tiny picture of what God is like.
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’”
—Exodus 3:14 (NIV)
God’s name, “I AM,” shows that He just exists. He doesn’t come from something else. He doesn’t depend on anything. He has always been and always will be.
Example | Has a Beginning? | Has an End? | Changes Over Time? |
---|---|---|---|
A person | Yes | Yes | Yes |
A mountain | Yes | Yes (eventually) | Yes |
A candle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
A circle | No | No | No |
God | No | No | No |
God is like a perfect circle—but even greater. He’s not just long-lasting—He’s everlasting.
So, How Old Is God?
Here’s the answer: God is ageless. He has no birthday. He will never grow old. He has always existed. He will always be.
That may be hard to understand. But that’s what makes God so special.
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.”
—1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV)
And because He’s eternal, we can trust Him forever.