The gospels are a kind of bios, or ancient biography, meant to convince people that Jesus was a charismatic miracle-working holy man,
providing examples for readers to emulate.
As such, they present the Christian message of the second half of the first century AD,
Modern biblical scholars are therefore cautious of relying on the gospels uncritically as historical documents,
and although they afford a good idea of Jesus' public career,
critical study has largely failed to distinguish his original ideas from those of the later Christian authors,
and the focus of research has therefore shifted to Jesus as remembered by his followers,
and understanding the Gospels themselves.