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Why do historians consider the purposes and viewpoints of the Gospels when studying St. John the Baptist?

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Geertgen tot Sint Jans: John the Baptist in the Wilderness — St. John the Baptist *John the Baptist in the Wilderness*, oil on panel by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 15th century; in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

Historians must consider the specific purposes and viewpoints of the Gospels because these texts were written from a post-Resurrection perspective to inspire belief in Jesus Christ, rather than as neutral historical biographies.12

When reconstructing the life of St. John the Baptist, scholars must account for the following theological tendencies:

Reconciling Subordination: Each Gospel writer sought to balance the historical reality of John’s precedence and Jesus’ baptism by John—which suggested John’s authority—with their belief that Jesus was the superior Messiah and Son of God.1
Theological Framing: The evangelists shaped their narratives to fit their unique theological goals. For example, Matthew identifies John as a returning Elijah, while John reduces the Baptist to a symbolic "voice" to emphasize Jesus' divinity.1
Community Context: The accounts were influenced by the needs of the evangelists' specific audiences and, in some cases, potential polemics against groups that continued to follow John the Baptist.12

Consequently, historians treat the Gospels as sources that require careful critical analysis to separate historical facts from the theological interpretations of the early Christian church.13