What is God's age?

Question
What is God's age?
Answer
God is eternal, so he doesn't have an age. As Timothy wrote, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Tim. 1:17). So, God has no beginning or end; he always has been and always will be. He is the everlasting God (Gen. 21:33); the "I AM" (Exod. 3:14) revealing his own self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. God exists in and of himself; he has the ground of his existence in himself and is not dependent upon anything outside of himself – including time. He is independent in his entire being; he is absolutely self-derived and self-sufficient. He is the uncaused Cause; the uncreated Creator (Psa. 33:11; 115:3; Isa. 40:18; 44:6; Dan. 4:35; John 5:26; Rom. 11:33-36; Acts 17:25; Rev. 1:17; 4:11). He is real (John 4:24) though not limited by the same physical laws and dimensions that govern the world he created (cf. Isa. 57:15).

While God is eternal (Psa. 93:2), he did create time when he created the world (Gen. 1:1). So, God is the author of time and of age itself. He even created the world “mature.” (Please see "What is the Mature Universe Theory?" below). He created the seasons, days, and years for us (Gen. 1:14). As Psalm 104:19 states, "He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting." Yet, in his being, God is not subject or controlled by the very time that he created. He is above time. He is the first and the last, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end (Isa. 44:6; Rev. 1:8, 11; 22:13). God may choose to be present in time, but he isn’t bound by it – just like his word (2 Tim. 2:9; cf. Psa. 119:89; Isa. 40:8; Acts 2:2; 9:3; 22:6).

We even read that the Christian's salvation, which happens within time, was predestined before time began (2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2) and before the very creation of the world (Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20). So, though our salvation will be challenged by temptation within the bounds of time, it is secure in the hands of him who is eternal (cf. John 10:28-29). (Please see “Losing Your Salvation" below).

Related Topics

What is the Mature Universe Theory?
What are the Attributes of God?
Losing Your Salvation

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).