Bur has a broad background in ministry and academics. He was ordained into Christian ministry in 1972 and has experience in youth and pastoral ministry. Bur has degrees from Taylor University, Winebrenner Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Bowling Green State University. He taught New Testament and Evangelism/Discipleship for fifteen years at Winebrenner Theological Seminary where he designed, developed, and was director of the Doctor of Ministry degree. Bur was also a faculty member at Bowling Green State University for fifteen years and continues to teach there occasionally as an adjunct Emeritus faculty. Bur was a Contributing Writer for the Life Application Bible, Tyndale House, Publ. His team wrote the applications associated with the biblical text. Bur has taught for Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies since 1992. Bur and his wife, Cathy, have two grown children, Brianne and Brandon, and seven grandchildren. They live near Bluffton, Ohio.