-----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,
 MWOXsvutg/20rtq2Miz9r5pdBAHvQBlxl/E6fW4SwCsKpjj6UY3U5TuDQNPGtle1
 3CcfCT+LBXFV2Z+q7RyTQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001205486-04-000001.txt : 20040223
<SEC-HEADER>0001205486-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040223125313
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001205486-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIEBEL ROBERT J SR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205486

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13788
		FILM NUMBER:		04621316

	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>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205486</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIEBEL ROBERT J SR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1129 MOSS BENNETT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ASHLAND CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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

Reportable person is no longer subject to Section 16 effective February 21, 2004... 6 months after his retirement as a Director on August 21, 2003</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Les Hottovy, Power of Attorney for Robert J Niebel, Sr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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