Genesis 1:1 (KJV): meaning and how to memorise it

What Genesis 1:1 says

The first verse of the Bible. God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 in context

¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ²And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ³And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ⁴And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1, verses 1–4. Read the whole chapter with John Brown’s notes in the Self-Interpreting Bible.

Genesis 1:1 in the catechisms

The Reformation catechisms and confessions cite Genesis 1:1 6 times as a proof text.

WSC 3
What do the Scriptures principally teach?
WSC 9
What is the work of creation?
WLC 15
What is the work of creation?
WCF 4.1
It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, in the beginning, to create or make of nothing…
HC 26
What do you believe when you say: I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
HC 53
What do you believe concerning the Holy Spirit?

How to memorise Genesis 1:1

Hearers breaks the verse into clauses and teaches each clause in four steps. Then it brings each clause back just before you forget it.

01
Read
Read the verse with the clauses marked. Listen to it read aloud.
02
Trace
Type the first letter of each word, with the words shown faintly.
03
Fade
Half of the words go. Type the text again, and fill the gaps from memory.
04
Recall
All the words go. Type it or say it aloud. Each clause gets its own grade and its own review date.