Numenius of Apamea: The Father of Neo-Platonism

...and as it migrates into the habit of duality. This is not correct; for if the singularity were to cease to exist, and that which was not a duality were to persist—with matter being derived from God and a vast and indeterminate duality derived from singularity—this opinion would not even be held by people of moderate education. Finally, the Stoics say that matter is defined and limited by its own nature, whereas Pythagoras asserts that it is infinite and without limit. Since the Stoics believe that because nature is immense, it cannot be reduced to the order and measure of nature, Pythagoras asserts that this is the virtue and power of God alone—that what nature cannot accomplish, God can easily do, as He is more powerful and excellent than any power, and from whom nature herself borrows her strength.

XV.

CCXCIV. Therefore, Pythagoras also, says Numenius, considers matter to be fluid and without quality, but not, as the Stoics believe, a nature intermediary between the neighborhood of good and evil—a class they call "indifferent"—but clearly harmful. For God is (as also seems to be the view of Plato) the beginning and cause of goods, and matter the cause of evils. But that which is composed of both the species and matter is "indifferent." Therefore, it is not matter, but the world, tempered by the goodness of the species and the malice of matter, and finally born from Providence and necessity, which is considered "indifferent" according to the knowledge of the ancient theologians.

XVI.

CCXCV. Both the Stoics and Pythagoras agree that matter is formless and lacking in quality, but Pythagoras [adds that it is] malicious.