-----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,
 NXH5iujizQ77wEl+nr9MFY9eWawAlT7j2wevKr/q58dbDzpxzjGKE/7wGUN6Blod
 8R835Yh3SKoUaDMVq+GsvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001261657-03-000001.txt : 20030828
<SEC-HEADER>0001261657-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030828
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030828125834
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001261657-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030821
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030828

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLUE RONALD W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001261657

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13788
		FILM NUMBER:		03870370

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THOMAS NELSON INC
		STREET 2:		501 NELSON PL
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37214
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4047057000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 JOHNSON FERRY RD N.E.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30342
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-21</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001261657</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLUE RONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1100 JOHNSON FERRY RD N.E.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30342</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to acquire Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-08-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-08-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Derivative Securities were granted to the Director at the same time as his appointment to the Board was approved by the shareholders at the annual shareholder meeting on August 21, 2003</footnote>
    </footnotes>

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

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Les Hottovy, power of attorney for Ronald W. Blue</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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