Michael

:QUOTE:I also wonder what it means and if it has any bearing that in 1Peter 3:7 that the woman is “the weaker vessel”. I don’t think it is an insult toward women, a character flaw, nor a design flaw. Somehow it is God’s intention, part of HIS design, and very good.

And, Adam was closer to a pure “image of God” than any other man who ever lived (besides Jesus). It says in 1Tim 2:14 “Adam was not deceived”. He made the decision to eat the fruit before his eyes were open to the knowledge of good and evil which leads to death. What if his motivations were far more noble than what we imagine? Suppose he CHOSE to die by eating the fruit out of LOVE for his wife??? It still transgressed the boundaries God gave him, so it was still sin. The tree which leads to death is not JUST the knowledge of evil. Somehow “the knowledge of good” leads to death too. :END QUOTE:

STARTING WITH THE PHRASE “the weaker vessel”.
7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

That phrase from my understanding of scripture is this. Woman has a big disadvantage because of the fall, the curse on woman would be (History shows it) that:an he (Man/male) shall rule over you (women/female)! The husband is told to give honour & according to knowledge now because your both Heirs together in Christ. The only way to break that curse or undo it, is being in Christ. Giving your wife (or sister in the faith) equal rein to rule together side by side just like it was before the curse/fall because we are BOTH heirs and In Christ. ONE Hope ONE faith ONE baptism etc. An we single men can learn from this passage as well even though it was written to Husbands. We need to back up our sisters (an wifes to thoughs who are married) in Christ to answer their higher callings from HIM. If you hinder her (Gods Daugthers/Sisters/Women/Wifes) your prayers will be hindered!

Now for the other question about Knowledge: If good knowledge or wisdom leads to death then was it good in the first place? (Don’t confuse that question about Christ going to the cross to die because he beat death when he rose again) that was God’s good wisdom/understanding at it’s best! Maybe to rephrase that question would be this: If good knowledge or wisdom leads to (HELL FOREVER) then was it good wisdom/knowledge in the first place? No. The whole idea of Good wisdom an Knowledge is to PROTECT someone from doing something bad or to warn someone to not make a bad choice or go down a bad path!
The TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD & EVIL IN THE GARDEN: All of what God makes is perfect an good. It was good that that tree was in the garden because it was a visable reminder to Adam as well as Eve that as long as they didn’t eat from that tree ( not to be like God) that was good! It was bad to eat from it it would bring death!
They all ready had the knowledge of good & evil FROM GOD. Its was good not to eat (or touch), it was bad if they did. If they ate from that tree they would get the knowledge of good & evil by EXPERIENCE but now you have to EXPERIENCE THE BAD AFFECT of that action SIN WHICH BRINGS DEATH!
Look at it this way,once they sinned they knew God was GOOD (He Warned Them) but now they did an EVIL thing(They Ate/Sinned). Also it proves God means what He said!
It was in the Garden where “Self” was born. ME,MYSELF,AND I. The tempation with Eve. The Fruit looked good to ME, To make ME wise/wisdom, To be like God etc.ME ME ME, Me Myself and I.
Jesus said to forsake/denied self! Self: We are our own worse enemy!