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Blood doctrine · Claim record

In September 1961 The Watchtower wrote: 'Lifesaving efforts by unscriptural means can never produce results of lasting good. How foolish it is to think that one can save life by violating the laws of the Life-giver!'

Claim ID claim-blood-1961-lifesaving-unscriptural-meansConcerns 15 September 1961Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 September 1961 Verified

In September 1961 The Watchtower wrote: 'Lifesaving efforts by unscriptural means can never produce results of lasting good. How foolish it is to think that one can save life by violating the laws of the Life-giver!' The Watchtower, 15 September 1961

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Using Life in Harmony with the Will of God”

15 September 1961 · pp.559-566 · par. 18 (p. 565) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Lifesaving efforts by unscriptural means can never produce results of lasting good. How foolish it is to think that one can save life by violating the laws of the Life-giver!”

Par. 17 (p. 565) says Witnesses 'have no religious objections to any treatment that does not conflict with the law of God' and that other treatments are available; par. 18 adds that violating God's law jeopardises eternal life.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on WOL; pars. 17-18 quoted verbatim. The 'temporary prolongation … cost of eternal life' wording is NOT present; WOL phrase searches for 'prolongation of life' and 'temporary prolongation' also fail to find it.

Notes. Use this verified sentence instead of the unlocated popular quotation.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1961-0915-using-life

Claim page

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