# Didache 12.5

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Didache](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/) (*Doctrina duodecim apostolorum*)
- Date: ca. 50–150 (often ca. 100) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:328; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 308–333 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/12/5/

Summary: Those unwilling to work are exploiting Christ.

## Greek text

εἰ δʼ οὐ θέλει οὕτω ποιεῖν, χριστέμπορός ἐστι· προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων.

## English translation (Claude)

But if he is not willing to do this, he is making a trade of Christ; beware of such people.

## Translation notes

- “Making a trade of Christ” (χριστέμπορος): literally “a Christ-merchant,” a word apparently coined here.

## Citation (SBL)

Did. 12.5 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/didache/12/5/).