The first man to receive orders to write Jehovah's commandments and wisdom for mankind "Moses". The other flavors of the day, Egyptian gods were plentiful, Canaanite had their gods, Indus Valley and former area of USSR, China, worshiped different deities at this time frame.
Hebrew Scriptures were penned by prophets of old, Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, prophets who were told to write Jehovah's words.
Greek Scriptures, Luke, John, Matthew, Paul, Peter wrote what the Holy Spirit ordered them to write! Every Apostle died (expect John) by Martyrdom, they really had faith in what they preached!
Did Jews did for their belief in Jehovah, yes, there were faithful men who refused to worship Baal, Molech, Malcum, Tammuz, Ra.
One example, the "Maccabean Revolt" costed many Jews there lives, fighting the ruler who slaughter a pig on Jehovah's temple.
" Antiochus pursued a zealous Hellenizing policy. He made possession of the Torah a capital offense and burned the copies he could find.[6] He banned many traditional Jewish religious practices: Jewish sacrifice was forbidden, sabbaths and feasts were banned. Circumcision was outlawed, and mothers who circumcised their babies were killed along with their families.[7] Altars to Greek gods were set up and animals prohibited to Jews were sacrificed on them. The idol of Olympian Zeus was placed on the altar of the Temple. The motives of Antiochus are unclear. He may have been incensed at the overthrow of his appointee, Menelaus,[3] or he may have been responding to an orthodox Jewish revolt that drew on the Temple and the Torah for its strength[1] and encouraged by a group of radical Hellenizers among the Jews.[8]"
Wiki Maccabees http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees