-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JYBgsMF1I6kh44sHoQkW0wCEbXkHpDrVHW5NHsLwzF4bbmJN3x/d/3RPnesGAR9r
 hPG6S/UvzbzhmyHuCFfaDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001197662-03-000009.txt : 20031029
<SEC-HEADER>0001197662-03-000009.hdr.sgml : 20031029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031029174559
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001197662-03-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031029

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YOUNG ANDREW J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197662

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13788
		FILM NUMBER:		03964627

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GOODWORKS INTERNATIONAL LLC
		STREET 2:		303 PEACHTREE ST NE
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30308

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NELSON THOMAS 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:	ROYAL PUBLISHERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19721019
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000071023</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NELSON THOMAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TNM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197662</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YOUNG ANDREW J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GOODWORKS INTERNATIONAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>303 PEACHTREE ST NE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30308</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock - Phantom Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.225</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>909</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.225</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-09-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-08-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Cash equivalent for Phantom Stock Units tied to Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>909</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6365</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units were exercised and paid in cash pursuant the terms of the Thomas Nelson Inc. 1997 Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price for determination of cash payment was at FMV on 9/1/2003 @ $12.225</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Phantom stock units are to be settled in cash only in ten annual installments beginning with the election of the Director as determined by age at time of election.
Installment payment is the 3rd installment of 10 installments he has elected.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Reportable person has a power of attorney on file with the security issuer authorizing and designating Les Hottovy or Joe Powers to sign on his behalf</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Les Hottovy, as power of attorney for Andrew J. Young</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----