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Bible Encyclopedias
Hyle
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (ὕλη, matter) was, according to the doctrines of the Manicheaans (q.v.), the Lord of darkness. They: held that the world is governed by two primary principles, viz. "a subtle and a gross sort of matter, or light and darkness, separated from each other by a narrow space," over each of which presides an eternal Lord. God they termed the Lord of the world of Light; Hyle the Lord of the world of darkness; and both of these worlds, "although different in their natures, have some things in common. Each is distributed into five opposing elements, and the same number of provinces; both are equally eternal, and, with their respective lords, self-existent, both are unchangeable, and exist forever; both are of vast extent, yet the world of light seems to fill more space than the empire of darkness. The condition of the two lords presiding over the two kinds of matter is equal, but they are totally unlike in their natures and dispositions. The Lord of Light, being himself happy, is beneficent, a lover of peace and quietness, just and wise; the Lord of darkness, being himself very miserable, wishes to see others unhappy, is quarrelsome, unwise, unjust, irascible, and envious. Yet they are equal in the eternity of their existence, in their power to beget beings like themselves, in their unchangeableness and in their power and knowledge; and yet the King of light or God, excels the Prince of darkness, or the Daemon, in power and knowledge." — Mosheim, Ch. Hist. of the first three Centuries, 2, § 41, p. 275; Meander, Hist. of Dogmas, 1, 118, 127, 181, etc.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Hyle'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/h/hyle.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
