When looking at early Christianity, how reliable are the book of acts and the letters in the NT as a source?

by Mperorpalpatine

Can parts of the new testament in The Bible, like the letters and the Book of Acts, be considered historical sources or just religious texts?

brojangles

Only the seven Pauline letters undisputed as authentic (Galatians, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Philemon, 1 Thessalonians) are typically viewed as being reliable because they are first hand and are the only writings we have with a known author. Acts is late and problematic and the other Epistles are believed to be pseudoepigraphal.

That doesn't mean it is assumed that Acts has no historicity, but that much caution is needed and Acts, all by itself, cannot be taken as certain evidence for any give claim.

Bart Ehrman: The New Testament: A Historical Introduction

The Acts Seminar Report: Acts and Christian Beginnings