*Aaron Milavec, "The Saving Efficacy of the Burning Process in Did 16:5," The Didache in Context: Essays on its Text, History, and Transmission, ed. by Clayton N. Jefford (Leiden: Brill, 1995) 131-155. The opening paragraphs and the concluding paragraphs have been revised here in order to better address the issues of concern to Didache scholars. Added footnotes are presented in < >. The Saving Efficacy of the Burning Process in Did 16:5* Aaron Milavec The purpose of this essay is to reexamine the long-standing practice of finding in Did. 16:5 an implicit reference to the saving activity of the crucified Christ as understood by Paul. The saving activity of the Father envisioned by the Didache communities was principally eschatological and entirely silent respecting any Pauline theology of the cross. Once Pauline interpretations are viewed as foreign to the internal logic of the text itself, Did. 16:5 can then be reconstructed within an alternative horizon of understanding. Accordingly, this essay will explore the dual functioning of eschatological fire within Jewish prophetic writings and early Christian apocalyptic literature as providing a way to recover an authentic understanding of the Didache freed from Pauline overlays. The exposition will proceed in three phases. First, the narrative flow and linguistic structure of the apocalyptic ending of the Didache will be examined. Second, the traditional interpretations of Did. 16:5 will be critiqued. Third, the dual functioning of eschatological fire will be illustrated from select prophetic and apocalyptic texts by way of exploring a fresh understanding of Did. 16:5. On Overview of the End-Time Scenario of the Didache The Didache closes with a terse end-time scenario that seems designed to reaffirm the grave importance of being "watchful" (Did. 16:1) and being "frequently gathered together" (Did. 16:2) in expectation of the Lord's coming "in the last days" (Did. 16:3). According to the Didache, the end time would begin when "the false prophets and the corrupters will be multiplied" (Did. 16:3). These are the very classes of persons that the body of the Didache regards as endangering the way of life defined therein (Did. 11:1-12). Now, however, they will succeed: "The sheep will be turned into wolves, and the love will be turned into hate" (Did.