That having been said, we move forward with caution, because Paul understands that death isn't only a matter of entropy, In Romans 5, Paul argued that death entered the world because of the sin of Adam. And so, it appears that Paul closely associates death with sin. (Later in Romans 8 he will employ the phrase "sin and death" in his argument concerning those who have their minds set on the flesh rather than set on the spirit.} He also argues that death reigned among human beings, even among those who didn't disobey a direct command of God as Adam did. They all died even though they didn't disobey a direct command of God. Thus, Adam is the prototypical human being.
Romans 5:12 KJV
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Paul directly connects the fact that they died with the fact that they sinned.
Romans 5:13-14 KJV
13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
He tells us that even though they didn't violate God's sole commandment, yet still sin kills, and they died because they sinned.
There was never any question about this, since all humanity was "in Adam" when he transgressed, and all humanity was corrupted by that transgression.
Claiming that Jesus would have died attributes sin and the corruption of sin to Him, the Holy One of God.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49 KJV
45) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46) Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Much love!