"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us." 2:7
I don't think he is talking about hiding yourself away from the world. He's speaking about people that they have told the words of Jesus and have taken it in a direction they don't believe Jesus meant it to go. The disciples were people that spoke with Jesus first hand and their words are what we need to heed as we walk in Christ. If Jesus had written a book, we would be reading that. I think they were warning us that some people were taking their words and witness and leading others in the wrong direction. Funny that just this morning, I was reading about a public speaker that seems to be doing just that. He explains the gospel without quoting it. Many people may read what he says and take that as gospel instead of the words that the disciples wrote.
"Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." 3:15
And that is what we are charged with doing when we find people doing this. He isn't an enemy. He is brother that is being deceived. We, as Christians, need to remind him of God's Word and gently direct him back to it. We all have the free will to interpret the gospels ourselves. But we don't have the authority to explain it to others that way. Read the scriptures yourself. Pray and seek guidance. Open your heart to Him personally.
