Jesus | Facts, Teachings, Miracles, Death, & Doctrines E.P. Sanders 20–25 minutes ________________________________________ The Jewish religion in the 1st century Judaism, as the Jewish religion came to be known in the 1st century ce, was based on ancient Israelite religion, shorn of many of its Canaanite characteristics but with the addition of important features from Babylonia and Persia. The Jews differed from other people in the ancient world because they believed that there was only one God.