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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001020563-06-000003.txt : 20060614
<SEC-HEADER>0001020563-06-000003.hdr.sgml : 20060614
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060614153342
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001020563-06-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060614
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060614

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAVIS W LIPSCOMB JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001020563

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13788
		FILM NUMBER:		06904775

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		615 367 8441

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HILLSBORO ENTERPRISES
		STREET 2:		4094 HILLSBORO PIKE, SUITE 204
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215-2751

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMAS NELSON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000071023
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2731]
		IRS NUMBER:				620679364
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 NELSON PLACE
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37214-1000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6158899000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 141000
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37214-1000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NELSON THOMAS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYAL PUBLISHERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19721019
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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            <rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-08-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>8.375</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-08-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <value>2006-06-12</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-12</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.5</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-08-21</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            </securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.4</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.4</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-08-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-08-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6795</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.85</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-09-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6795</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercise of in-the-money stock options as part of tender offer to take the company private is reported as a disposition of a derivative security and an acquisition of a Direct Interest in the underlying shares</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option strike price was determined at FMV on date of grant</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options are exercisable on the 1 year anniversary date from date of grant. All options have accelerated vesting as a result of the change in control with the tender offer to take the company private</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Disposition pursuant a tender of shares in a change of control transaction</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Price was determined at $29.85 per tender offer in a change in control transaction</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Phantom stock units are settled in cash, 1 unit  per 1 share, based on the tender office price of $29.85</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Reportable person has an indirect interest in the entity by virtue of their position as a Director or Trustee of the organization</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Reportable person has a Power of Attorney on file with the security issuer that authorizes and designates Joe Powers or Les Hottovy to sign on his behalf.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Les Hottovy, Power of Attorney for W. Lipscomb Davis, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----