Note 7 at Gal. 1:7: Notice that Paul says, "there be some that TROUBLE you." The Simple English Bible (SE) translates this as, "DISTURBING you." The Living Bible says, "throwing you into CONFUSION" (1 Cor. 14:33). How was this happening? It happened by "PERVERTING. . .TWISTING. . .CHANGING. . . and DISTORTING the gospel of Christ, i.e. the good news about Christ" (KJV; LB; SE).

Note 8 at Gal. 1:7: The Greek word for "perverting" (METASTREPHO) the gospel means "to change" the gospel, not by denying it but by mixing something with it. The Galatians were perverting the gospel by: (1) observing special days (sabbaths), months, seasons and years (Gal. 4:10); (2) demanding circumcision along with belief in Jesus for salvation (Gal. 5:2; compare with LB); (3) thinking that part of their righteousness came through observing the law (Gal. 5:4); and (4) believing that righteousness could be obtained by the strength and ability of their own flesh (Gal. 3:3).

If they would have observed these things voluntarily they would not have been guilty of perverting the gospel (Rom. 14:1-6). But when they made the observance of these things mandatory in order to obtain righteousness (justification), at that point the gospel was perverted.

Today, most people don't observe these same rituals that the Galatians did, so they miss the comparison between what the Galatians were doing and what much, if not most, of "Christianity" is doing today. We have changed vehicles but we're traveling the same road to the same destination. We could say, "Pray, fast, go to church, read your Bible, tithe, AND believe in Jesus and you will be accepted in God's sight." That would be a perversion of the gospel just as much as what the Galatians were doing. If observance of these things were encouraged but not required, it would be good and well pleasing to God. We should do those things. However, when these things become mandatory to receive righteousness (justification), it perverts the truth (Gal. 2:21).