What does Galatians 5:8 mean?

Paul has pointedly asked his Galatian readers: who has tripped them up in the race of following Christ? They were "running well" by following the truth of salvation through faith alone (Galatians 3:23–29). Who redirected their route so that they are no longer obeying the truth? In this segment, Paul seems to be hinting at someone in particular, rather than the general group of Judaizers, who tried to add rituals to the gospel (Galatians 2:4).

Now Paul insists this person—the false teacher—is not the one who "calls" them. Back at the beginning of his letter, Paul identified God as the one calling the Galatians in the grace of Christ (Galatians 1:6). In other words, God wants them. He is telling them to trust in Christ. They should not be duped—"hindered" or tripped up—by believing that the words of a false teacher are coming from the Lord.

Instead, what this person is teaching amounts to a false version of the gospel (Galatians 1:6–7), leading those who listen in the wrong direction.