Pactum Salutis
Recently while studying the Reformed doctrine of the Trinity, I came across some words I don’t remember hearing before; “pactum salutis”. It is very possible, that I may have seen these words used, but just don’t remember. However, the reason I bring this issue up is it brought a memory from a frustrating discussion I had years ago regarding the heretical novel called ‘The Shack’. In defence of the book an Arminian theologian from the SBC, told me that the only reason I disagree with the portrayal of the Trinity in the book, was because I am a Calvinist and Calvinists are not Trinitarians, they are Tritheists.
I was quite shocked that he said this at the time, mainly because I had never heard an accusation like that before. I was also taken back a bit, because I had not even told him or anyone else I was a Calvinist. Even before I became a Calvinist, although my knowledge of such matters has grown, my understanding of the Trinity was basically the same as it is now. I bowed out of that conversation; but I did make enquiries about this accusation with fellow Reformed Christians. If memory serves me properly, everybody said the accusation was silly. However nobody brought up the words “pactum salutis”.
From what I am reading now; it appears that the particular Arminian theologian, may have made that claim because in his view “pactum salutis” amounted to the belief in “Tritheism”?
I plan on studying more on this matter; however I found that John Owen spoke a fair amount about this issue in his book ‘The Gospel Defended’. Which I don’t have, but I have read quotes out of it.
Any thoughts on this issue would be appreciated. I need to admit this stuff stretches the grey matter between my ears. lol
Thanks
Tom

Here are 3 short articles on the "Pactum Salutis", aka: 'The Covenant of Peace', or 'The Covenant of Redemption':

http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2015/11/defending-the-covenant-of-rede.php
http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2015/11/defending-the-covenant-of-rede-1.php
http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2015/11/defending-the-covenant-of-rede-2.php