"In the beginning was the Act..."

It says: "In the beginning was the Word."

Already I am stopped.  It seems absurd.

The Word does not deserve the highest prize,

I must translate it otherwise

If I am well inspired and not blind.

It says: In the begnning was the Mind.

Ponder that first line, wait and see,

Lest you should write too hastily.

Is mind the all-creating source?

It ought to say: In the beginning there was Force.

Yet something warns me as I grasp the pen,

That my translation must be changed again.

The spirit helps me.  Now it is exact.

I write: In the beginning was the Act. (Kaufmann pg. 153)

Faust is not satisfied with the translation given in the Bible stating, "In the beginning was the Word."  He seems to understand this term literally, and does not think that pure words "deserve the highest prize."  He seeks a term that represents "the all-creating source," but rejects both Mind and Force.  Once he determines that "In the beginning was the Act," no more attention is given to this subject.

I find Faust's choices of words extremely compelling and cannot help but think that they are deliberate.  The progression from Word to Mind represents Faust's desire for more knowledge than that which he has gained via education (which is in the form of words).  He seeks something more: "Though I know much, I should like to know all" (Kaufmann, pg. 111).  There is some Force that will propel him forward in this quest to know, resulting in an Act that becomes the source of his gain.  While this is my own (most likely flawed) interpretation of these lines, I do think they are worth examining.  What is the function of Faust's struggle to find the right "word" and does he choose the most appropriate one?  What is the connection amongst the terms from which he chooses?  How do they relate to the plot?