Patristics is a field of study that deals with the writings and teachings of the early Christian leaders, particularly those of the first seven centuries of the Christian Church. There are several synonyms for patristics, including early Christian literature, church fathers, and early Christian theology. Other synonyms for patristics include patrology, apostolic writings, ancient Christian texts, and early Christian history. Each of these synonyms refers to the same field of study, and all of them focus on understanding the beliefs, practices, and ideas of the earliest Christian thinkers and communities. Regardless of the term used, the study of patristics is an important part of understanding the history and development of the Christian Church.