The Gospels are not biographies in the modern sense, but expressions of faith shaped by the needs of the early community.

This statement frames the canonical Gospels as theological witness rather than modern-style life histories, emphasizing how early Christian communities’ concerns influenced what was written and preserved.

It suggests the Gospel writers were primarily communicating religious meaning and communal belief, so their narratives should be read as faith-shaped testimony rather than as neutral, comprehensive historical biography.