Why did Paul preach the gospel freely to the Corinthians?
Paul preached the gospel freely to the Corinthians because he did not take financial support from them. Instead, he accepted wages from other churches, including the poor Macedonians, so he would not have to take a single dime from the wealthy, commercial city of Corinth.
Les explains that Paul preached the gospel freely to the Corinthians, meaning he did not receive money from them. In 2 Corinthians, Paul asks if he committed an offense by abasing himself so they might be exalted, because he preached the gospel of God freely. He says he robbed other churches, taking wages from them to do the Corinthians service. Les notes Paul took offerings from the poor Macedonians, even against his better judgment, so he would not have to take a dime from Corinth. Corinth was a wealthy, commercial city, while Greece is mountainous and usually had little means of making a living, so those other churches were poor and destitute. Paul still took from that poor area so his preaching to Corinth would be free.
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?