I. What Is a Canon?
Scripture, canon, and lectionary use are not the same thing. A book can be read in worship for centuries without being canon.
II. How the Old Testament Canon Formed
Torah, Prophets, and Writings took shape over centuries. The Septuagint preserved a wider collection. Rabbinic Judaism, after 70 CE, consolidated a narrower list.
III. How the New Testament Canon Formed
Apostolicity, orthodoxy, catholicity, and liturgical use drove the process.
IV. Canon Status by Tradition
The Dead Sea Scrolls are not canonical in any tradition. But they include the oldest known copies of biblical books and illuminate the world that produced both rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.
V. Why These Texts Still Matter
The Dead Sea Scrolls have transformed our understanding of Second Temple Judaism, textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible, and the background of the New Testament.
VI. How to Read Responsibly
Check date, provenance, language, and genre. Distinguish "not canonical" from "worthless." Avoid proof-texting.