When we talk about church history, most people think the big turning point was the Protestant Reformation — and it was. But the truth is, there were two major divides that shaped the Church as we know it today.
Both moments centered on one central question: Who—or what—has the final authority in the Church?
The first divide happened in 1054 with what’s called the Great Schism.
The second came in 1517 with the Protestant Reformation.
Understanding both helps us see that throughout history, God has always raised up His people to bring the Church back to one thing — the gospel.
1. The First Divide: The Great Schism (1054)
Long before Martin Luther ever nailed his 95 Theses, the Christian Church split into two main branches:
the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
At the heart of that separation was a single question:
Who has the final say — the Pope or the collective Church?
The Issue of the Pope
The bishop of Rome — the Pope — claimed universal authority over all other bishops.
The Eastern Church said, “No.” They believed all bishops were equal under Christ and that decisions should be made through councils, not by one man’s decree.
The Filioque Controversy
Then came the famous Filioque clause.
The Western Church added the phrase “and the Son” to the Nicene Creed, saying that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
The Eastern Church objected — not just to the theology, but to the idea that Rome could change a creed without agreement from the entire Church.
The Result
By 1054, the two sides officially broke communion.
The Eastern Orthodox Church kept:
- The ancient liturgy and worship traditions
- The first seven ecumenical councils
- A deeply spiritual view of salvation called theosis — becoming partakers of the divine nature
Their focus remained on preserving the unity, mystery, and beauty of the early Church — but apart from papal control.
2. The Second Divide: The Protestant Reformation (1517)
Fast forward 500 years. The Western Church — now the Roman Catholic Church — had grown wealthy and politically powerful.
It sold indulgences (pieces of paper promising less punishment for sin), controlled kings, and silenced Scripture from the people by keeping it in Latin.
Then came Martin Luther, a German monk with a Bible and a conscience bound by the Word of God.
When he nailed his 95 Theses to the door in Wittenberg, he wasn’t starting a new religion — he was calling the Church back to the gospel of grace.
The Issue of Salvation
While the Great Schism was about who leads the Church, the Reformation was about what leads the Church.
Luther and the Reformers stood on this truth:
The Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) is our highest authority.
Salvation is by grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide), in Christ alone (Solus Christus).
They believed no pope, priest, or council could add to what Scripture clearly teaches.
The Result
The Reformation gave birth to the Protestant churches — Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and later Presbyterian.
They were all different in form, but united in one purpose: to recover the biblical gospel.
While the Eastern Orthodox Church preserved the structure of early Christianity, the Reformers preserved its truth — the message of salvation by grace through faith.
3. Comparing the Two Divides
| Split | Main Issue | Focus | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Schism (1054) | Papal authority — the Pope’s claim to rule the whole Church | Structure & leadership | Eastern Orthodoxy separates from Rome; keeps ancient liturgy & conciliar leadership |
| The Reformation (1517) | Salvation & biblical authority — Scripture vs. tradition | Truth & the gospel | Protestant churches break from Rome; return to salvation by grace through faith |
Both movements rejected papal supremacy — but for very different reasons.
The East sought to preserve unity among bishops.
The Reformers sought to restore the purity of the gospel.
4. One Lesson from Both Divides
From 1054 to 1517, one thing remains clear:
Every true reform begins when God’s people return to His Word.
- The Eastern Church guarded the historic faith.
- The Reformers recovered the biblical gospel.
And both remind us that the Church must never elevate human authority above divine truth.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
— Matthew 24:35 (ESV)
Faithful Femme Noir Reflection
History shows what happens when believers stop testing everything by Scripture.
The Reformation wasn’t rebellion — it was renewal.
As women who love the Word, we’re called to that same discernment today:
To build our faith not on popularity, personality, or tradition,
but on truth.
When we know God’s Word, we’re not tossed around by every new idea or cultural wind.
We’re steady. Rooted. Anchored in the gospel that saves and the Savior who reigns.
Faithful Femme Noir — where faith stands firm on truth that never changes.
This was a great read and lesson.