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Blood doctrine · Claim record

The frequently repeated quotation that a transfusion may bring 'temporary prolongation of life, but at the cost of eternal life' was not found in either 15 September 1961 article or by a phrase search of the Watchtower Online Library. The nearest verified wording is in The Watchtower of 1 July 1951, pp. 415-416: 'Any saving of life accomplished by transfusions is short-lived. And doing it in disobedience of God's commands could cost one eternal life.' The popular quotation appears to paraphrase it.

Claim ID claim-blood-1961-prolongation-quote-not-locatedConcerns 15 September 1961Context
Context · 15 September 1961 Unverified

The frequently repeated quotation that a transfusion may bring 'temporary prolongation of life, but at the cost of eternal life' was not found in either 15 September 1961 article or by a phrase search of the Watchtower Online Library. The nearest verified wording is in The Watchtower of 1 July 1951, pp. 415-416: 'Any saving of life accomplished by transfusions is short-lived. And doing it in disobedience of God's commands could cost one eternal life.' The popular quotation appears to paraphrase it. The Watchtower, 15 September 1961The Watchtower, 15 September 1961

Show the evidence (2 sources)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Respect for the Sanctity of Blood”

15 September 1961 · pp.553-559 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“(article discusses transfusion as violating divine law; the phrase 'prolongation of life … eternal life' does not occur)”

Opened specifically to locate the popular quotation 'temporary prolongation of life, but at the cost of eternal life'; it is not in this article.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on WOL; absence of the phrase confirmed by a prompt search of the full text.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1961-0915-sanctity-of-blood

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

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-blood-1961-prolongation-quote-not-located/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.