Here are some thoughts coming from reading 1 Timothy 2:12-15... Paul explaining why he does not permit a woman to exercise authority over a man. His reasons goes back to creation:
a. The man was created first - it matters who was created first.
b. The woman sinned first - it matters who sinned first.
According to this text, Adam and Eve did not sin simultaneously. One was in sin before the other.
So it got me to thinking, what was the world like in those few moments after Eve sinned but before Adam sinned? Eve ate the fruit - sin is now in the world. She offers Adam the fruit and Adam has a moment of temptation - he can resist, but he would ultimately sin.
But what would have happened if Adam resisted? Remember their state. I've heard it said that while I, having a sin nature, am "unable to not sin," Adam and Eve, created in perfection, were "able to not sin" (while also "able to sin"). So in this brief moment, Eve now possesses a sin nature but Adam is still sinless.
So when Eve sinned, bringing sin into the world, was Adam helpless at that moment? Was Adam now no longer "able to not sin"? While it may have been theoretically possible for Adam to remain sinless, was it now theoretically impossible, because Eve brought sin into the world? And if Adam was still capable of not sinning, can we imagine a scenario where Eve is given the curse, cast out of the garden, and condemned to death, while Adam is not cursed, remains in the garden, with the potential of eternal life? Or did the sin of one condemn the other? (It's funny how men today blame women for sin, and women strike back by saying "the man sinned also" - maybe the man had no choice! :) )
But we shouldn't forget... sin was already in the world before sin entered the world! The crafty serpent, the devil, was a liar, was manifested in physical form and existed in this sinless garden...which makes me think, any created being who is "able to sin" and "able not to sin" WILL sin because of the fact that they are NOT divine, they are not Creator. And the only way a created being will never be "able to sin" is if the ability has supernaturally been removed, i.e. angels or the church in heaven and on the new earth.
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Perhaps Satan, being the master deceiver approached Eve first, knowing as a woman she desired to be like God more so then man. He knew if he could persuade her he could also the man. After her sin, Adam saw Eve before him in her new sinful flesh nature and could have been easily swayed, since lets not kid ourselves, since that time men are swayed by the very thing.
Satan knew if the woman would fall so will the man. God then placed them both under the curse and placed woman under man so that it would be difficult for her to ever achieve that which she sinned for in the first place.
Just my two bits
God Bless
I have often wondered the same thing. I am inclined to go along with the line of reasoning in your last paragraph in light of the fact that scripture says that the Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world.
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