In the case of Matthew and the gospel writers, the proof of the pudding was in the eating. They were copied, collected, and finally found their into the New Testament. When we approach the Bible we need to take all these things into account. With Paul we need to work out what is central and what is less important, even dispensible, and not run with the approaches followed by his opponents. With the gospels we need to watch the way they tell the stories so that we can grasp what the real message is and not get distracted by the various differences or by what was geared to a particular audience.
Imagination is a way of getting in touch with what is real.
Getting real about the Scriptures means takes them seriously as God's gift to the Church and letting them speak to us on their terms.