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. Canon Status by Tradition
The Hermetic texts are not canonical in any tradition. They we're never considered Scripture by Jews or Christians, though they exerted enormous influence on Renaissance philosophy, alchemy, and Western esotericism.
IV. Why These Texts Still Matter
The Hermetica are essential for understanding the religious and philosophical ferment of the Greco-Roman world, the development of Neoplatonism, and the history of Western esotericism.
V. How to Read Responsibly
Check date, provenance, language, and genre. Distinguish "not canonical" from "worthless." Avoid proof-texting.