-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WdahiWF9GM9WyfnakAjN830UW1l/Vn7xloWNwxb0qe+QoZlytQlZ+RJO3Kf/eTfs
 I/pDm48KLy8oI70YmKr0Rg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001205475-03-000001.txt : 20030718
<SEC-HEADER>0001205475-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030718
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030718110255
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001205475-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030718

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENSON  BRIAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205475

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13788
		FILM NUMBER:		03792456

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 NELSON PALCE
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37214

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>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205475</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENSON  BRIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Budget Forecast Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Thomas Nelson Inc. - Common Shares (TNM)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1930</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Thomas Nelson Inc. - Common Stock (TNM)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>333</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.05</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2263</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-24</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-05-24</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Thomas Nelson Inc - Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>7.05</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-07-17</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>333</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>7.05</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-16</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-05-16</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Thomas Nelson Inc. - Common Stock (TNM)</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>333</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>667</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">X1 - Exercise of in the money derivative security is reported as an acquisition of a direct interst and a dispositon of a direct interest in a derivative</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">X2 - Exercise of in the money derivative security is reproted as an acquisiton of a direct interest and a disposition of a direct interest in a derivative</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Les Hottovy, power of attorney for Brian Henson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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