neilgodfrey

As for Acts, it is not the second century attestation alone that is used by researchers I have read that "helps butress" any argument about dating, but that fact, in conjunction with another fact, that when they are first attested they "just happen" to serve a most useful -- and point by point specifically useful -- function in life-and-death second century conflicts.

I would argue the same for some of the canonical gospels, but the Acts debate (a recent one discussed here and here) in this context is better known.

Neil