The interface of esotericism with the history of biblical literature, and Christianity and Judaism more widely, is understudied. It’s great to see a new volume focusing on apocryphal and esoteric sources in ancient and medieval Jewish and Christian traditions.

From the volume’s official website, here, which can be consulted for an impressive TOC:

Apocryphal and Esoteric Sources in the Development of Christianity and Judaism

The Eastern Mediterranean, the Near East, and Beyond

Series: Texts and Studies in Eastern Christianity, Volume: 21

Volume Editor: Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev Apocryphal traditions, often shared by Jews and Christians, have played a significant role in the history of both religions. The 26 essays in this volume examine regional and linguistic developments in Ethiopia, Egypt, Syria, Armenia, the Balkans, and Italy. Dissenting groups, such as the Samaritans, followers of John the Baptist, and mediæval dualists are also discussed. Furthermore, the book looks at interactions of Judaism and Christianity with the religions of Iran.
Seldom verified or authorized, and frequently rejected by Churches, apocryphal texts had their own process of development, undergoing significant transformations. The book shows how apocryphal accounts could become a medium of literary and artistic elaboration and mythological creativity. Local adaptations of Biblical stories indicate that copyists, authors and artists conceived of themselves as living not in a post-Biblical era, but in direct continuity with Biblical personages.