-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 S5EtukAyz/79G41qrQsKfwpdGF0S6fda8/2a8txzap/35hoQbjgV4tOSIqXAS1FK
 mZc6BWQ1h37fxDw6lP2DLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001261657-04-000001.txt : 20040824
<SEC-HEADER>0001261657-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040824
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040824185351
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001261657-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040824
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040824

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13788
		FILM NUMBER:		04995116

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001261657</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLUE RONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5605 GLENRIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 845</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>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.1</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Thomas Nelson Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of Stock Option, exempt under Section 16b-3, is reported as an acquisition of a Direct Interest in a derivative security.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price is determined at FMV on date of Grant</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Option vest, or become exercisable on the 1st anniversary date from the date of grant</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 Ronald W. Blue</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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